Early Release from Prison Through Juvenile Parole (ISRB)
December 2023
In Washington, a person who was under the age of 18 at the time of an offense and was prosecuted and sentenced as an adult may petition for early release from prison after serving 20 years of a felony sentence for most felony crimes (sentences for aggravated first-degree murder and certain sex offenses have different rules). A petition for early release is reviewed by the Indeterminate Sentence Review Board (ISRB), more commonly referred to as the Parole Board.
A person is eligible for early release from a felony sentence longer than 20 years if they meet these two requirements (other than aggravated first-degree murder and certain sex offenses):
No subsequent conviction for a crime that occurred after their 18th birthday; and
No disqualifying “serious infraction” in DOC in the 12 months prior to filing the petition for early release.
There is no early release review process for a person who was under 18 at the time of their offense and who is serving a prison sentence of less than 20 years.
The Parole Board must release a person who is eligible under this procedure unless it determines by a preponderance of the evidence that, despite conditions, it is more likely than not that the person will commit new criminal law violations if they are released.
If the Parole Board grants the person an early release, the person will have a period of community custody. Community custody includes supervision from the Department of Corrections (DOC) and conditions of release the person must follow. The Parole Board decides how long the period of community custody will be when it grants release. The period of community custody can be as long as the full length of the original sentence.
If a person is released early and then violates any conditions of community custody, the Parole Board can return the person to prison for up to the remainder of their sentence. The person can reapply for early release again, after serving five more years of confinement.
The Parole Board can release a person who is eligible for early release after serving 20 years, even if the person has mandatory sentence terms, including mandatory terms for weapons and firearms enhancements.
The law applying to early release through juvenile parole is found at RCW 9.94A.730.
Parole for Aggravated First-Degree Murder
Aggravated first-degree murder is the most serious offense in Washington. It is handled differently than other felony crimes. If a person was under the age of 18 at the time of the crime of aggravated first-degree murder and was prosecuted and sentenced as an adult, the court must impose a sentence that includes a minimum term and a maximum term of life imprisonment. A person can petition the Parole Board for early release from prison after serving the minimum term. The law applying to release for people with a conviction for aggravated first-degree murder that is found at RCW 10.95.030(2).
Juvenile Parole Does Not Apply to Certain Sex Offenses
Some people who are convicted of certain serious sex offenses receive a sentence that is “indeterminate,” which means the sentence has both a minimum term and a maximum term, and the Parole Board determines when the person is released. The process for early release through Juvenile Parole does not apply to people who were under age 18 at the time of the crime and who have an indeterminate sentence for a sex offense. The law applying to indeterminate sex offense sentences is found at RCW 9.94A.507.
More information about the ISRB (Parole Board) can be found here, including an annual report with release rates.
