Approved by voters in 2012, the Children and Family Justice Center project is a planned seven-year, $210 million project to replace the existing juvenile detention and courthouse on the 9.1 acre county-owned campus at 12th Avenue and Alder Street in Seattle. The new facilities are planned to have ten courtrooms and space for associated support services, 154-dorm juvenile detention facility, and a 440-space parking garage. The project work includes planning for Phase II future facility expansion and identifying surplus property on the site. Oversight on this project is intended to increase the likelihood of successful delivery through monitoring recommendations, and reporting on project status and risk management activities.

In our most recent report, we found that additional communication with the County Council about changes to scope and schedule are needed following the recently set project baseline for the Children and Family Justice Center project. This baseline shows completion of the new courthouse and detention building in early 2019, nine months later than anticipated last year. Cost forecasts are unchanged at $212 million. The project oversight committee recently added the Alder Academy to the scope at an additional cost of $2.9 million, the source of which is uncertain.

Audit team

If you have any questions or would like more information, please call the King County Auditor's Office at 206-477-1033 or contact us by email KCAO@kingcounty.gov.