On January 21st, 2026, three of our clients chose to testify in Olympia in support of House Bill 2389, a bill that would give judges more options than incarceration when sentencing children in the juvenile system.
Dorothy Adams and Darrius Bruton testified before the Washington State House, and Voss Carpenter later testified before the Senate. The three shared their experiences in the foster system and at juvenile facilities such as Green Hill School & Echo Glen Children’s Center to help lawmakers understand why this reform is necessary.
“These were not isolated incidents, they were the results of a system that relied on confinement instead of care,” said Bruton during his testimony before the House. Our clients’ decision to speak publicly reflects both courage and a deep commitment to ensuring children are met with care instead of confinement.
About HB 2389
HB 2389 recognizes that many children enter the system because of trauma, neglect, or lack of support—and that treatment, structure, and guidance are often more effective than jail.
“HB 2389 matters because it gives the judge the ability to choose something other than jail as a default response to children in crisis,” Bruton said.
“It allows judges to choose treatment over incarceration when it will actually save a life,” said Adams during her testimony. “If this bill had existed when I was 17, my story might have been different.”
About Oslund Udo Little
At OUL, representing survivors of juvenile sexual abuse means more than litigating individual cases. We represent clients who were harmed in Washington’s juvenile institutions because accountability matters, but so does preventing that harm from continuing.
We stand with our clients as they use their voices to help protect others. Their willingness to speak publicly helps expose systemic failure, affirms the dignity of survivors, and pushes for a juvenile system that responds to children with care, guidance, and the opportunity to heal.
