Douglas County Commission work session to focus on juvenile criminal justice, detention center

Douglas County Department of Youth Services and Juvenile Detention Center at 330 N. Industrial Lane

The Douglas County Commission’s work session on Wednesday will focus on Criminal Justice Services’ youth programs, including alternatives to incarceration and the future of the Juvenile Detention Center.

Pam Weigand, the county’s director of Criminal Justice Services, will give a presentation that explains the various programs available to a juvenile offender, or JO, and child in need of care, or CINC.

Juvenile justice reform at the state level has required some Douglas County programs to change over the past few years, particularly with some laws that went into effect in July 2018. Weigand’s presentation will explain some of those differences and discuss the future of the JDC.

Additionally, the population in juvenile detention centers statewide has primarily been declining since 2010, the presentation shows. In Douglas County, the average daily population was in the single digits for 2018 at roughly eight youths, down from about 12 in 2017. Weigand will discuss potential alternative uses for the JDC building.

The presentation also offers statistics on the use of the county’s immediate intervention program, which is similar to diversion, and conditions of release supervision, juvenile house arrest, juvenile intensive supervision probation and more.

Weigand will also share information on the county’s truancy and diversion program that’s coordinated with the University of Kansas, and the Detention Day School, “an alternative school placement for youth who are experiencing problems in school or have had attendance issues.”

At their 5:30 p.m. regular meeting, commissioners will consider options for the county’s 2019-2020 health insurance plan.

The commission will meet for its 4 p.m. work session and 5:30 p.m. regular meeting on Wednesday at the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts St. Complete agenda materials are available via douglascountyks.org.

Contact Mackenzie Clark

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