Basic services, 2022
-
Overall
Locally operated
-
Detention
Locally operated
-
Probation
Locally operated
-
Reentry
Locally operated
Delinquency services in Kansas are organized at both the state and local level. In Kansas, all 11 secure detention centers are administered at the county executive level through county commissions.
Community supervision in Kansas is administered by the Office of Judicial Administration, across 31 judicial districts.
The Kansas Department of Corrections, Juvenile Services Division, administers commitments to state public facilities. Aftercare services (conditional release) for youth leaving state facilities are administered by local Community Supervision Officers working out of local Community Supervision Agencies. |
Purpose clauses, 2016
-
No clause
-
Parens patriae
-
Due process era
-
Balanced and Restorative Justice (BARJ)
-
Developmental Approach
Corrections agency, 2015
-
Independent juvenile corrections agency
-
Family/child welfare agency or division
-
Broad human services agency
-
Adult corrections agency or division
The Kansas Department of Corrections, Juvenile Services Division, administers commitments to state juvenile correctional facilities, as well as aftercare services (conditional release) for youth leaving state facilities.
Intake and diversion, 2016
Initial intake and court diversion decision is at the discretion of the prosecutor or the juvenile court intake officer.
No statutory time limit/s for court diversions exist.
Solitary confinement, 2016
-
Prohibits punitive confinement
-
Limits punitive confinement
-
No limits on punitive confinement
-
Did not respond
Solitary confinement for punitive purposes is allowed in Kansas' juvenile correctional facilities. Disciplinary segregation is allowed up to 30 days and room restriction up to 10 days depending on the offense. The superintendent’s approval is required for confinement beyond 30 days. (Adapted from 51 Jurisdiction Survey of Juvenile Solitary Confinement Rules in Juvenile Justice Systems, 2016. Lowenstein Center for the Public Interest at Lowenstein Sandler LLP)
Release decision, 2016
-
Agency
-
Court
-
Parole board
-
Agency and court
Youth committed to the Kansas Juvenile Justice Authority for placement in a juvenile correctional facility are released by the committing courts, as their sentence is determinate. Youth may earn early release through good behavior credit as authorized in statute. A risk/needs assessment does not inform the release decision given the determinate sentencing structure.
Risk assessment, 2020
| Organization |
2013 |
2017 |
2020 |
| Statewide uniform assessment |
|
|
|
| Layered/regional assessment |
|
|
|
| Locally administered assessment |
|
|
|
In Kansas, probation services are provided by both local Court Services Officers (CSOs) and Kansas Department of Corrections, Division of Juvenile Services staff. CSO's provide probation supervision services within the Office of Judicial Administration. State statute requires the administration of a risk/assessment tool. Juvenile probation offices have recently adopted the Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI) statewide to assess risk and inform pre-disposition reports and recommendations. Previously, local courts were not required to adopt a specific tool.
State level probation provided by the Kansas Department of Corrections, Division of Juvenile Services also uses the YLS/CMI to determine levels of supervision and inform case planning. The Department of Corrections - Division of Juvenile Services (DJS) standards mandate the assessment of youths in custody or community supervision using the YLS-CMI. The DJS encourages risk and needs assessment through state administrative oversight and new officer training and certification.
Sex offender registration, 2015
Registers
Risk instruments, 2017
- Risk instruments tool used
- Youth Level of Service/Case Management Inventory (YLS/CMI)
Mental health screening, 2014
Requires a research-based mental health screening
-
Secure detention
-
Probation
-
Corrections
- Mental health screening tool used
- Mental Health Juvenile Detention Admission Tool (MH-JDAT)
Kansas does encourage the use of a research-based mental health screening for juveniles. They are screened at arrested by law enforcement using either the POSIT or Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument, 2nd Edition (MAYSI-2), depending on the jurisdiction.
Juvenile probation does not use any specific mental health screening instrument or instruments, juvenile probation officers may refer youth to the community mental health center for screening/assessment based on their observations and professional judgment.
Juvenile correctional facilities in Kansas use the MH-JDAT for a mental health screening. The MH-JDAT is completed within one hour of the youth’s admission, and is administered by a trained corrections officer in the Reception and Diagnostic Unit. Funding for mental health screening comes from a variety of sources, including county- and state-level.
Frameworks for evidence-based practices, 2014
-
Statute
Supporting commitment to EBPs
-
Administrative regulations
Either in corrections, probation, or the juvenile court
-
Support center
Or collaboration dedicated to coordinating activities around implementing, evaluating, and sustaining EBPs
-
No stance
No official stance on EBPs
-
Did not respond
State did not respond to the survey
There is nothing in Kansas law on juvenile justice or other sectors in Kansas that specifically define evidence-based practice in juvenile justice. However, grant documents for state funded prevention and federal funding request information on which evidence based practices are part of the program or the program model. A lack of evidence-based programming is not a disqualifying factor in the award process. However, for federally funded grants applicants lose points in the competitive process and are unlikely to get funding. Kansas has no formal research activities and does not provide support for them. Kansas relies on OJJDP, NREPP, etc. to be the resource for such evidence.
Recidivism reporting, 2016
- Study populations
-
The group(s) of youth being studied in states that publicly report recidivism data.
-
Arrest
-
Court action
-
Supervision
-
Placement
- Re-offense events
-
Events that are used to measure recidivism in states that publicly report recidivism data.
-
Arrest
-
Court action
-
Supervision
-
Placement
- Follow-up periods
-
Details regarding the length of time and frequency that youth are tracked in states that publicly report recidivism data.
36 months with adult systems reporting
- Details
-
Additional levels of analysis provided in states that publicly report recidivism data.
-
County
-
Age
-
Gender
-
Race/ethn.
-
Risk level
-
Initial offense
-
Re-offense
-
Prior history
The Kansas Department of Corrections publishes recidivism rates for youth released form juvenile correctional facilities. Recidivism rates are presented for youth who violate conditional release as well as those with a new adjudication or adult conviction within 36 months of release.
Data sources
- Annual Report FY 2015
- Kansas Department of Corrections
