NCJ Number
150901
Date Published
1993
Length
198 pages
Annotation
An evaluation of Kentucky's Unified Juvenile Code indicates several problems related to the lack of treatment facilities and local treatment alternatives; the availability and use of detention, particularly preadjudication detention; the lack of appropriate punishment alternatives for juveniles and the lack of parental responsibility; barriers to cooperation and coordination among entities involved in implementing the Unified Juvenile Code; and statutory and procedural problems.
Abstract
The evaluation report notes that victims of juvenile crime often feel unfairly treated within the juvenile justice system and that Kentucky has experienced problems in complying with the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act's grant funding requirements. The report details problems related to treatment resources, such as the lack of residential beds, statutory mandates, the right of juveniles to treatment, the effect of deficient treatment resources on status offenders, the lack of foster homes and emergency shelters, and the lack of mental health facilities for children. The report also discusses problems associated with detention, legislative actions to improve juvenile justice programs, truancy, parental access to juveniles in custody, confidentiality rights of juveniles, the juvenile appeals process, and victim rights. Appendixes provide additional information on the evaluation of Kentucky's Unified Juvenile Code. Tables and maps