Native American children significantly more likely to be arrested, detained in Washington

Native American children significantly more likely to be arrested, detained in Washington

Melanie Henshaw / InvestigateWest

November 10, 2025 / 3:52 pm

For the past 30 years, it’s been clear: Native American children in Washington state are far more likely to be arrested and jailed than white kids.

The state’s courts and Washington Department of Youth and Families have acknowledged the justice system continues to hold back Native American youth, funding committees and producing action plans to address racial inequities in the juvenile legal system. Advocates have called for fewer arrests, many of which are discretionary. Lawmakers have demanded more data on juvenile arrests.

Yet the gaps have continually worsened. Data from the nonprofit Sentencing Project and the federal Office of