The bill amends the Kansas juvenile justice code to enhance judicial authority over juvenile offenders, allowing judges to commit juveniles to detention for technical probation violations and increasing the cumulative detention limit from 45 to 90 days. It introduces stricter penalties for juvenile offenders who use firearms or are repeat offenders, extending the minimum commitment period from six months to 12 months and the maximum from 18 months to 36 months. The bill emphasizes rehabilitation by allowing various sentencing alternatives, such as probation and community service, while ensuring that detention is a last resort. It also specifies that detention can only occur if the juvenile poses a significant risk of harm or has committed a new felony offense, with mandatory court reviews of detention commitments every seven days.

Additionally, the bill outlines new procedures for handling juvenile offenders, particularly in cases where the victim and juvenile are in the same school district, requiring court hearings to determine attendance at the same school. It establishes guidelines for commitment durations based on offense severity and risk assessments, favoring placement in youth residential facilities for chronic offenders aged 10 to 14. The bill also mandates the development of case plans for juveniles on probation and introduces a statewide detention risk assessment tool. It repeals several existing statutes to streamline the juvenile justice process, focusing on rehabilitation while ensuring victim safety.

Statutes affected:
As introduced: 38-2361, 75-7023, 38-2391, 38-2392, 38-2369