Central Juvenile Defender Center

KY 2nd in Nation for Incarceration of Youth for Status Offenses

Kentucky Youth Advocates Press Release

Kentucky is 2nd in the nation in the alarming practice of incarcerating youth for minor offenses such as skipping school or running away, despite research that shows this practice increases the risk for recidivism and is harmful to youth.  The Children's Law Center and Kentucky Youth Advocates recently released this issue brief on the topic: Issue Brief.

teen in court on shootings

From the Enquirer, Cincinnati, Ohio

Here for the original link

COVINGTON – A teenage runaway from Ohio is expected to plead guilty today in Kenton Circuit Court for a botched home burglary where two people were shot.

Gage Lindstrom of Columbus is charged with one count of first-degree burglary and two counts of first-degree robbery.

His co-defendant, Ashley Walker of Florence, is expected to plead guilty later this month. Walker is additionally charged with two counts of first-degree assault.
ADVERTISEMENT

Both were 16 at the time of the crime, but are being tried as adults. State law requires juveniles 14 years and up be tried as adults if they commit a felony with a firearm.

Rehabilitating young offenders

Editorial, The Enquirer, Published 02.12.08.

Excerpt: 

Ohio and Kentucky are poised for significant - and promising - changes in both philosophy and practice in their juvenile justice systems.

Both states are moving toward a more flexible and personal approach to dealing with young offenders. They're stressing treatment over punishment, keeping the youth closer to their homes and considering a wider range of factors before making sentencing recommendations.

They're also pledging to do a better job of sorting out youths convicted of minor offenses from serious offenders, and placing them in settings that are more appropriate to their level of risk to the community...

To read the rest of this article, click here.