Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that limits the number of crimes which send juveniles to detention, among other provisions.

Highlights:

• Requires the Administrative Office of Courts and the Department of Youth Services to develop a risk and needs assessment to inform the supervision and treatment of any child brought before the court on a delinquency or child in need of supervision offense (Sec. 9).

• Defines “risk and needs assessment” as an evidence-based tool that identifies a child’s risk to reoffend and needs that, if addressed, could reduce the chance of reoffending (Sec. 9).

• Requires juvenile probation officers to administer the risk and needs assessment to every child before the court on a delinquency or child in need of supervision offense beginning October 1, 2018 (Sec. 9).

• Requires juvenile judges to review risk and needs assessments prior to initial judgement and to use such assessments to inform initial judgement beginning January 1, 2021 (Sec. 9).

• Requires the Department of Youth Services to incorporate the risk and needs assessment into the case plan for every child placed in detention (Sec. 9).

• Requires juvenile probation officers to incorporate the risk and needs assessment into the case plan for every child placed in probation (Sec. 9).

• Requires that a case plan be created for every child facing a delinquency or child in need of supervision charge following initial judgement (Sec. 8).

• Requires the Administrative Office of Courts to develop a graduated system of responses that include a continuum of community-based interventions that avoid detention and target the child’s risk of reoffending (Sec. 8).

• Requires that case plans include and document interventions, including incentives, sanctions, and the child’s behaviors (Sec. 8).

• Requires the Administrative Office of Courts to develop a detention risk assessment tool (Sec. 2).

• Defines “detention risk assessment tool” as an evidence based tool that assists in making detention determinations by assessing a child’s risk of failing to appear before the court (Sec. 2).

• Requires school districts to develop early warning truancy prevention programs (Sec. 4).

• Establishes the Juvenile Justice Reinvestment Fund (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text