FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                      

December 10, 2015

State Releases Plans to Improve Juvenile Justice System, Promote Public Safety, and Reduce Costs

Topeka, KS –– The Kansas Juvenile Justice Workgroup today submitted to state leaders a comprehensive set of data-driven policy recommendations designed to increase public safety, effectively hold juvenile offenders accountable and reduce juvenile justice costs. The Workgroup’s recommendations will be used as the foundation for statutory, budgetary, and administrative changes during the 2016 session of the legislature.

In keeping with its charge from state leaders, the Workgroup issued 40 consensus-based recommendations that if fully implemented are projected to reduce the average daily out-of-home population by at least 62 percent from projected levels in 2021, leaving millions available for reinvestment. Other highlights of the policy recommendations include:

• Preventing deeper juvenile justice system involvement of lower-level offenders through early response with targeted services and swift and appropriate sanctions;

• Protecting public safety and containing costs by focusing system resources on higher level youth; and
• Sustaining effective practices through continued oversight and reinvestment in a stronger continuum of evidence-based services.

The report is available at: www.doc.ks.gov/juvenile-services/committee/Workgroup/report/Final. 

While the juvenile arrest rate in Kansas dropped more than 50 percent from 2004 to 2013, the state’s community supervision and residential commitment populations have not fallen at the same rate. In particular, the out-of-home placement population did not mirror the drop in the juvenile arrest rate, declining by roughly half as much (24 percent). Kansas is currently ranked 9th highest nationally in out of home placements for juvenile justice involved youth.

Beginning in June 2015, the Workgroup conducted a comprehensive analysis of the juvenile justice system, reviewing key data from the Office of Judicial Administration (OJA), the Department of Children and Families (DCF), and KDOC, and gathering input from those who work on the front lines through more than two dozen roundtable discussions with stakeholders, including law enforcement, crime victims, judges, county and district attorneys, and service providers. The Workgroup also reviewed current research on reducing recidivism as well as effective policies and practices from states across the country.

"These recommendations are an important step forward for juvenile justice in Kansas," said Governor Brownback. "Our priority is helping Kansas youth and their families. These steps mean less crime, lower costs for taxpayers and better outcomes for everyone involved."   

Key findings of the Workgroup include:

• As crime falls, Kansas’s juvenile justice system does not keep pace. Instead of mirroring the reduction in crime, Kansas’s juvenile justice system is cycling youth through more out-of-home placements and holding them away from home longer than it did a decade ago.
• The vast majority of youth placed in state-funded residential facilities are lower-level offenders and have limited criminal histories.
• Bed costs are high. More than two-thirds (over $53 million) of KDOC’s juvenile services budget is spent on out-of-home placements at a cost of as much as $89,000 per year per youth.  That is more than 10 times the cost of probation.
• Evidence-based interventions for juvenile offenders are scarce in communities.

“We charged the work group with studying the juvenile justice system to see if there were opportunities for better outcomes for our youth and our communities,” said Chief Justice Nuss. “I am encouraged by their recommendations and believe they should help us create a more efficient and effective juvenile justice system.”

“The recommendations in this report help provide the Legislature with a framework for achieving a brighter future for our state’s youth,” said Speaker Merrick. “With these recommendations we are better positioned to assist troubled juveniles to avoid a future of incarceration and instead become productive members of society.”

“The policies put forth by the Workgroup will help improve the juvenile justice system in Kansas,” said Senate President Susan Wagle. “Together we can create better policy that will result in having fewer youth in our juvenile system, and fewer coming into our adult corrections system as well.”

“I am encouraged that Kansas is focusing on its juvenile justice system,” said Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley. “The Legislature now has an opportunity to work together to improve the lives of our youth, families, and communities.”

“Kansas needs a juvenile system that focuses on public safety and improving the outcomes of youth, said House Minority Leader Burroughs. “I look forward to working on them during the next legislative session.”

The Workgroup is co-chaired by Representative John Rubin and Senator Greg Smith, chairs of the House and Senate Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committees. It also includes 15 additional members:

• Representative Gail Finney, District 84
• Senator Pat Pettey, District 6
• Judge Thomas Foster, 10^th Judicial District
• Judge Mary Thrower, 28^th Judicial District
• Judge Delia M. York, 29^th Judicial District
• Mark Gleeson, Office of Judicial Administration
• Stephanie Springer, 27^th Judicial District Chief Court Services Officer
• Ray Roberts, Secretary, Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC)
• Terri Williams, Deputy Secretary of Juvenile Services, KDOC
• Randy Bowman, Director of Community Based Services, KDOC
• Melody Pappan, Cowley County Youth Services Administrator
• Jaime Rogers, Deputy Secretary, Kansas Department for Children and Families
• Trent Wetta, Kansas Legal Services
• Karen Griffiths, Assistant County Attorney, Norton County
• Ed Klumpp, Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police

The state received technical assistance from The Pew Charitable Trusts’ Public Safety Performance Project throughout the Workgroup process.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Many residents have multiple addictions to alcohol and/or other drugs, weak problem-solving and self-management skills, poor parenting skills, and low self-esteem. Residents have also typically established poor priorities in life and are involved in dysfunctional relationships. Faith communities can play a significant role in the lives of residents by providing hope, compassion, and helping them to understand and internalize ultimate issues. The SLC provides opportunities for residents from diverse faiths to develop and restore relationships with God, their families, communities and crime victims.

Why a Spiritual Life Center is needed and the benefits it offers:
ECF has constructed a freestanding Spiritual Life Center (SLC) with approximately 9,167 square feet of floor space. The design incorporates six classrooms, an audio/video/book library, two chaplain offices and a sanctuary that accommodates up to 300 people. The project was accomplished through the efforts of volunteers and facility staff using resident labor. Funding has come exclusively from donations received from individuals, corporations and grants from private foundations. Other funding has come through the residents who have sold craft items, made Jaycee's donations and made tithes.

Current and Planned Religious Programming
Chaplaincy Services are designed to assist inmates affiliated with all recognized faith groups/denominations to achieve individual spiritual growth. Inmates are afforded opportunities to participate in their primary worship service and any special services/activities open to the general population. Various counseling services are also available including individual, marriage, parenting, crisis, grieving and spiritual counseling.

The SLC also provides space to expand support group activities such as Jaycees, Alcoholics/Narcotics Anonymous, Master Life, Experiencing God and Making Peace With Your Past. 

Utilization of Donations & Volunteer Services

• Classroom Curriculum & Books: Funding and volunteers are needed for classes with subjects on: spiritual growth, parenting, marriage, life skills,  self-help, grief and addiction recovery.
• Building & Equipment Updates: Funding continues to be needed to update the building, furniture and electronic equipment used to provide classes and programming.
• Library Updates: Monetary and material donations help keep the library inventory current with newly released books, videos and audio tapes.   
• Transportation Costs: Funding is needed for costs associated with transporting minimum-custody residents for drama, music and testimony presentations in churches, schools and other community venues. For more information or to schedule a presentation, please contact the chaplaincy department at the phone number below.
• Concerts & Seminars:  Funding and volunteers are needed to enlist quality outside groups to minister inside the prison.
• Craft/Gift Shop Materials:  Donations of cloth, wood, limestone rock and tools are needed for the residents to manufacture crafts for Tender Thoughts Gift Shop.
 

If you would like to make a monetary donation, please send to:

ECF Spiritual Life Center Fund
c/o Chaplaincy
P.O. Box 107
Ellsworth, KS  67439

All donations are tax deductible per Internal Revenue Service Code, Section 170.

VOLUNTEER SERVICE APPLICATION
Return completed Service Application form to Chaplains Dale Bailey or Dan Vallier.

 

   ___________________________________________________

   Name

 

   ___________________________________________________

   Address

 

   ___________________________________________________

   City, State, Zip

 

   ____________________________________________________

   Home Phone                                                              Work Phone

For more information, contact:
Dale Bailey & Dan Vallier, Chaplains
Ellsworth Correctional Facility
PO Box 107
1607 State Street
Ellsworth, KS  67439

Telephone:  (785) 472-5501

x46214 (Dale Bailey, Chaplain)
E-mail: Dale Bailey 

X46213 (Dan Vallier, Chaplain)
E-mail: Dan Vallier

Overview | Visitor Information | Programs | History | Warden

____________________________________________________________________________

Special visits are those conducted outside the parameters of the established visit program.

Circumstances under which special visits may be granted include, but shall not be limited to:

• when a visitor has traveled a distance in excess of 150 miles one way

• where the inmate receives infrequent family visits, less than two per quarter year; and

• where other correctional goals or rehabilitation needs of the inmate indicate the need for special visiting privileges

All requests for special visits must be initiated 72 hours in advance by the inmate through his unit team via a Form 9. The unit team will answer the Form 9 with an approval or disapproval 24 hours prior to the scheduled visit.

The inmate's respective unit team will investigate the request, and evaluate the need for special visiting privileges.

The Inmate requesting special visiting for religious purposes and pre-marital counseling must submit a Form 9 directly to the chaplain for an approval or disapproval.

Special visits previously approved by the unit team may only be disapproved by the Warden, one of the Deputy Wardens or the shift captain.

A record of all approved and disapproved special visits will be maintained in the inmate's unit team file.

In addition to special visits, the visiting room's officer in charge may grant a courtesy visit when, in his or her judgment, the granting of said visit would be in accordance with the visiting philosophy of the Kansas Department of Corrections and Lansing Correctional Facility. Normally a visitor will have to have traveled a distance of 150 miles or more to be considered for a courtesy visit.

Overview | Visitor Information | Programs | History | Warden
____________________________________________________________________________

The goals of this effort are broad based and important. We need to reach out at all levels of our communities and educational institutions to educate and to recruit. Our efforts should help more taxpayers better understand what we do and why we do it, as well as how our efforts on their behalf impact them every day, every hour. The plan is to provide a list of speakers, skilled in their work and selected by their leaders and peers, to educational institutions from high schools to colleges and universities. At some point, we may also provide such contact information to community organizations, though many of you and your leaders already are a part of or have spoken to community organizations. Thank you if you are one of those persons who has already done so!

This is an important task: If you feel you are uncomfortable or unable to speak to a group contacting you, please ask your supervisor to get someone else equally skilled and willing to share similar information regarding what was originally requested. Our hope is that we are open to questions and seeking answers from the appropriate source (check with the Central Office Communications Office if you are unsure). The Department of Corrections publishes an annual report, and we do reports on population daily that are available to you as well.

The key to this task is your rapport with the group you speak to about why and how you and your peers work hard to reduce risk to Kansans in many ways, all designed using evidence-based research and clearly targeting the offender based on their assessed risks and needs to provide the correct dosage and response. When we get a broad array of speakers and subjects needing to be covered, we will share the information with you and with the educational institutions. If you feel other agencies or organizations need to be included, or additional subjects need to be added, please let the Central Office Communications Office know. Our hope is this may educate and entice more persons to working or volunteering to join us in the good work being done. Thanks so much for being willing to provide time and effort to carry on the mission of the Kansas Department of Corrections.

For more information, please call Hope.Burns@ks.gov or (785) 296-3310

--------------------------------------------------