An Evaluation of Juvenile Justice Reform Efforts in Kentucky

• In Event: Studies of State-level Juvenile Justice System Improvement Efforts

Abstract

In 2014, Kentucky passed Senate Bill 200 (SB 200) based on recommendations from a bipartisan, interbranch task force to reduce their out-of-home placement population and length of youth commitment, increase the number of youth in diversion programs, increase community services, and reduce recidivism. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), provided funding for training and technical assistance conducted by the Crime and Justice Institute to support implementation of SB 200, as well as an evaluation of the reform effort and its impact conducted by Westat and the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA). This presentation will describe the evaluation work being conducted with key Kentucky agencies to evaluate reforms passed in the SB 200 legislation. Specifically, the implementation evaluation will document barriers and successes to implementation, with a particular focus on community-based services for justice-involved youth. The outcome evaluation will examine the extent to which services are equally accessible to youth and the impact of SB 200 on youth’s subsequent contact with the justice system. The findings of this study will provide a better understanding of the effectiveness of the reform effort in Kentucky, develop recommendations for on-going system improvements, and identify lessons learned that can inform related reform efforts in other states and jurisdictions.

Authors

• Sarah Vidal, Westat

• Suzanne Kaasa, Westat