Juvenile Justice Center

Grievance Process

Your child has the right to be treated in a fair, just and humane manner while in detention. Accordingly, your child has the right to an official review of any complaints regarding their treatment by custody staff, school staff, volunteers or service providers. The purpose of the grievance process is not merely to resolve ordinary conflict and disagreements, but to protect future residents from misconduct and unfair treatment. Your child will not be punished for filing a grievance so long as there was no bad faith involved. Nothing in the grievance process is intended to limit or eliminate any other relief available to your child under law.

A grievance is a formal complaint, reduced to writing, about your child’s treatment in the detention facility or a conflict with another staff or youth. Your child may file a grievance for any reason. If the complaint involves a serious issue, a grievance should be filed. Serious issues are those issues that involve allegations of sexual abuse or harassment, retaliation for such conduct, or staff neglect or violation of responsibilities that may have contributed to such incidents. It also includes any misconduct or treatment that creates a risk of physical harm, is a law violation or a violation of the constitutional rights of a resident. Your child may file a grievance regarding serious issues even after release from the facility. 

In addition, third parties such as parents, guardians, advocates or fellow detention residents may file a grievance on a resident’s behalf for serious issues. Serious third-party grievances will be considered and investigated regardless whether your child has agreed to have the grievance filed on their behalf. The fact that a third party is grieving does not stop your child from filing their own grievance. In addition to the right to file a grievance for serious issues, third parties may assist youth in filing. Parents and guardians may provide assistance via mail or telephone or in person during normal visiting sessions. Attorneys and advocates representing youth may arrange special visitation for the purpose of providing assistance.

If your child has a physical, developmental, or learning disability that prevents them from putting their grievance in writing, the juvenile detention manager will assist them, as necessary, in writing the grievance. 

To file a grievance, your child may request a grievance form from any custody staff member. Custody staff will promptly provide access to grievance forms and all necessary tools, along with the opportunity to fill out and file a grievance, whenever youth request to do so. Your child should then fill out the grievance form, sign their name, and place it in one of the lock boxes located in each living unit.  Only the detention manager has a key to access the lock boxes. The detention manager checks the boxes daily. In addition, your child may choose to submit the grievance through a trusted staff, probation counselor, or give it directly to the detention manager. Parents, guardians and youth who have been released may send a grievance via USPS to the attention of the detention manger or juvenile court administrator at the following address:

Chelan County Juvenile Court
316 Washington St., Suite 202
Wenatchee, WA  98801

It is also an option for you or your child to request a meeting with the detention manager in person. This can be facilitated by contacting Emilio Iniguez, Juvenile Detention Manager as follows: 509-667-6553 and email: emilio.iniguez@co.chelan.wa.us 

A grievance for a minor issue must be filed within 10 days of the incident. There are no time limits for filing grievances of serious issues, though as a practical matter, management’s ability to provide meaningful relief to a particular grievant becomes more difficult, or impossible, with the passage of time. However, serious issues that occurred in the past should be reported and will be addressed by management in order to prevent harm to subsequent residents.

The review process for a filed grievance is as follows:

Step One: The detention manager will review the grievance, conduct a discussion with your child and others involved, investigate to the extent reasonably necessary in light of the seriousness of the issue, and render a decision in writing within 10 working days.

Step Two: If you are not satisfied with Step One, all written materials will be forwarded to the juvenile court administrator who will render a decision in writing within 10 working days of receiving the Step One grievance.

The detention manager and juvenile court administrator may extend the time to respond at each step up to an additional 10 working days if necessary. 

If, at any stage of the grievance, you do not receive a response within the time limits (including proper extensions) you may consider the absence of a response to be a denial at that level and proceed to the next level.

Emergency Grievance Process:

If your child believes they are subject to a substantial risk of imminent sexual abuse, they (or a third party on their behalf) may file an emergency grievance.  Any grievance that alleges or asserts facts that reasonably indicate the presence of such risk will be expedited.  The detention manager or juvenile court administrator will take immediate corrective action on an emergency grievance when a determination is made that the youth is at risk. Emergency grievances require an initial response within 48 hours, and a final agency decision within five calendar days.  

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask custody staff or your child’s assigned probation counselor. 

In order to file an emergency grievance please contact Emilio Iniguez, Juvenile Detention Manager at 509-667-6553  or emilio.iniguez@co.chelan.wa.us

Posted: 07/14/2022 02:34 PM
Last Updated: 07/14/2022 02:39 PM