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

cherylca — 2015-12-10T22:40:00Z

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.

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State Policy Team Member List

Sandra Booker — 2025-07-23T19:25:00Z

Attached is a list of all State Policy Team Members along with their contact information.

State Policy Team Member List

Sandra Booker — 2025-07-23T19:25:00Z

Attached is a list of the State Policy Team members along with their contact information.

State Policy Team Member List

Sandra Booker — 2025-07-23T19:25:00Z

The attached file provides all current members of the State Policy Team along with their contact information.

State Policy Team Member List

Sandra Booker — 2025-07-23T19:38:40Z

State Policy Team Member List

Sandra Booker — 2025-07-23T19:38:40Z

State Policy Group Meeting Minutes and Handouts

Nancy Burghart — 2025-07-10T20:06:04Z

State Policy Group Meeting Minutes and Handouts

Nancy Burghart — 2025-07-10T19:40:32Z

STATE AND LOCAL POLICYMAKERS CONSIDER OPTIONS TO AVERT RISE IN PRISON COSTS- 12-12-06

David Cook — 2011-08-17T16:53:54Z

Legislators, state officials, and local leaders gathered at a criminal justice policy forum on Tuesday, December 12, organized by the Kansas Department of Corrections, Kansas Reentry Policy Council, Legislative 3-R’s committee, and the Council of State Governments.

STATE AND LOCAL POLICYMAKERS CONSIDER OPTIONS TO AVERT RISE IN PRISON COSTS- 12-12-06

David Cook — 2011-08-17T16:53:33Z

Star

cherylca — 2014-01-15T21:39:01Z

Standards

Nancy Burghart — 2013-08-15T04:55:00Z

Overview

These standards have been published by the Kansas Department of Corrections' Juvenile Services Division of for use by administrative counties to develop local policy and procedures which will direct the actions of local employees in the supervision of youth in Kansas. Communities are to implement these local policies and procedures and train their employees by January 1, 2007.

Below are listed the Community Supervision Standards (CSS) for Juvenile Intensive Supervised Probation and Community Case Management programs. The CSS are the minimum standards that are intended to help guide the development of local community supervision agencies Policy and Procedure manuals.

To access the following standards on Power DMS, please use the following Link:

https://public.powerdms.com/KansasDOC/tree

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Standards

cherylca — 2013-08-09T21:09:17Z

Standards

Nancy Burghart — 2014-01-16T16:50:00Z

Standard Visitation Guidelines

Lisa Herman — 2014-01-16T22:15:00Z

NCF STANDARD VISITATION GUIDELINES

1.	Prior to visiting a resident at NCF, each visitor shall be on the resident's visiting list in the KDOC Visitation Database. General procedures governing resident visitation are established in KAR 44-7-104, IMPPs 10-113 and 11-101, and NCF G.O. 16-101.
2.	Regular visiting hours are 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays; and Memorial Day, July 4^th, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Visitors shall not be processed in for a visit after 2:00 p.m.
3.	Volunteers shall not be placed on resident visiting lists. Members of the clergy and Mentoring 4 Success sponsors are exceptions.
4.	Visitors may only appear on one resident's visiting list except when visitor and more than one resident are members of the same immediate family. Immediate family is defined as parents, step-parents, siblings, spouses of siblings, half-siblings, step-siblings, children, spouses of children, step-children, grandchildren, step-grandchildren, spouse, parents of spouse, grandparents, or any person who has filled the role of parent de facto.
5.	Persons under age eighteen (18), except a spouse, shall not visit unless they are members of the resident's immediate family as described in #4 above and are accompanied by an adult per KAR 44-7-104(a)(2)(B). Parents/guardians are responsible for monitoring behavior of their children. Spanking/corporal punishment shall not be allowed.
6.	Visitors shall present photo-ID prior to each visit. A marriage license or birth certificate shall be required for persons under age sixteen (16) who cannot produce a photo ID. Persons unable to produce positive ID shall not visit.
7.	All visitors shall check in at Control Center (Dispatch at East Unit) and sign the visiting register. Once signed in for a day of visiting, visitors shall not leave and return the same day. Due to limited waiting areas, persons not visiting shall not loiter on facility grounds.
8.	Visitors are subject to search per IMPP 12-115 and must be processed through the Entry/Screening post. Signs are displayed near entrances which read: In English: "All persons entering upon these grounds are subject to routine searches of their person, property, or packages.", and In Spanish: "Todas personas que entren en esta terretorio tendran que ser esculcadas rutinamenta de persona, propriedades, o paquetes."
9.	If a resident refuses to see a particular visitor, such refusal shall be noted in the resident's visiting record.
10.	Coats, jackets, hats, and other seasonal outer wear shall be hung on hangers provided in the visiting area. Specific types of clothing are not considered appropriate for prison visitation and include, but are not limited to: a. See-through blouses, shirts, or skirts; b. Tank tops and/or halter tops; c. Dresses/blouses with revealing, low-cut necklines; d. Braless attire; e. Dresses or skirts split at front, back, or sides; f. Bare feet; and, g. Shorts, Bermuda shorts, or cut-offs (children under 10 years of age may wear appropriate shorts during summer months) * NCF reserves the right to deny access to visitors considered by the shift supervisor to be inappropriately attired.
11.	Except as permitted during Minimum Security Seasonal Outdoor Visiting, visitors shall not bring any item of personal property to the facility for residents and shall not exchange items in visiting areas with residents. PLEASE NOTE: TRAFFICKING IN CONTRABAND IN A CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION IS ILLEGAL in accordance with KAR 44-2-103 and is a severity level 5 or 6, non-person FELONY (depending on the circumstances involved) under KSA 21-3826.
12.	Visitors shall lock valuables in their vehicle or in Gatehouse lockers (including purses, wallets, keys, and books). Necessary heart medicines and oxygen tanks shall be exempt. Cell phones, batteries, chargers, and cameras must be secured in vehicles. NCF shall not be responsible for items of personal property.
13.	The only items visitors may bring into the visiting area are: a. Money for vending machines and food (maximum amount of $30.00); b. Photo identification; c. Issued Gatehouse locker key; d. Infant carrier; e. One (1) diaper bag containing: three (3) diapers (cloth or disposable) and reasonable amounts of extra baby clothing; two (2) infant bottles (with milk or juice) and/or two (2) training cups (with lids); one (1) baby or toddler cereal bowl (with baby food and utensils); one (1) infant blanket; two (2) infant toys/rattles; one (1) tube of diaper rash ointment or baby lotion; and, one (1) wet wipes dispenser.
14.	Vending machines are available for use by visitors, however, NCF staff shall not provide change. NCF and staff shall not be responsible for losses incurred due to vending machine malfunctions. All losses should be reported to the vendor.
15.	Facility staff shall not accept funds from visitors. Money orders, certified, or cashier checks may be mailed (with a required deposit coupon) to Centralized Inmate Banking (CIB) at Lansing Correctional Facility (LCF) for deposit. Western Union and/or GTL services may also be used to transmit funds.
16.	Members of the clergy, when properly identified, may visit residents during regular visiting hours. Private consultation rooms may be utilized. Special visits by clergy shall be arranged through both Unit Team and the NCF Chaplain.
17.	Ex-residents shall not visit without prior written approval of the Warden or designee. Visitors on post-release supervision (probation/parole) shall not visit without prior written authorization of their probation/parole officer and the Warden.
18.	Former KDOC employees and former contract employees shall not visit for a minimum of two (2) years following termination of employment. Approval of visits after two (2) years shall be at the discretion of the Warden.
19.	Residents shall not take legal documents to the Visiting Room for discussion with their attorney of record without prior approval of the Warden or designee. Inspection of this material shall be limited to that which is necessary to determine its legal or non-legal nature.
20.	Attorneys of record for the resident visited shall not carry any items or papers into the Visiting Room without prior approval of the Warden or designee.
21.	Residents shall not sign documents in the Visiting Room without approval of the Warden or designee.
22.	Residents shall be allowed to bring only the following items into the Visiting area: a. Comb b. Wedding band c. Prescription eyeglasses d. Approved religious medallion e. Room key - (A and C Unit residents only)
23.	Contact visits shall be limited to a brief embrace and kiss at the beginning and end of the visit. Visits may be terminated for excessive physical contact. Visits shall be terminated when resident-visitor conduct disrupts others. Mothers may breastfeed children per KSA 43-158.
24.	Visitors shall not photograph NCF buildings, grounds, or residents. Persons taking unauthorized photographs shall surrender film or digital media to staff.
25.	Persons suspected of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs shall be denied visiting privileges.
26.	NCF is a tobacco-free environment. All smoking paraphernalia (lighters/matches), tobacco products, and tobacco substitutes shall be secured in vehicles.
27.	Visitors shall not bring pets onto facility grounds in accordance with NCF G.O. 15-104.

Overview | Visitor Information | Programs | History | Warden
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