Steve Howe: A juvenile justice bill in Kansas has big problems

The Star on Jan. 18 published an editorial promoting the virtues of a new juvenile justice bill that will soon be introduced in the Kansas Legislature.

Prosecutors and law enforcement officials across the state are concerned about many aspects of the prospective bill. Kansans need to know that what is being contemplated will significantly reduce sentences for juveniles who commit murder, rape, kidnapping, robbery and other serious offenses.

In addition to these drastic changes, the prospective bill would limit the ability of our local courts to treat the most serious juvenile offenders as adults.

Kansas is one of the few states that does not permit direct waiver of juveniles to adult status. The reforms would further limit the already restricted ability of the courts to move the most serious juvenile offenders into adult court. The proposed measure also would hamstring prosecutors and courts from holding accountable repeat offenders who commit crimes like drive-by shootings and residential burglaries.

The juvenile justice system is designed to promote rehabilitation through a variety of programs and sentences. While this is our goal, we must also acknowledge that very serious crimes are sometimes committed by individuals under the age of 18.

The Legislature made substantial changes to the juvenile law in both 2013 and 2014. As a result, there has been a significant decrease in the number of juveniles serving time in juvenile correction facilities. The most violent offenders are still being held accountable, however.

The largest jurisdictions across the state have seen significant reductions in juveniles incarcerated while awaiting court. Johnson County has a population of more than 570,000 persons. In 2015, the average daily population at our local juvenile detention facility was only 21 persons.

The proposed new measure makes changes that are not needed. Although some Kansas group homes for juvenile offenders are not achieving intended outcomes, the proposed reforms will change all aspects of juvenile justice, including areas that are functioning well. These changes would create a system with less accountability for juvenile offenders.

While I applaud the legislature’s continuing effort to enhance our juvenile justice laws, many of the proposed changes are unnecessary and would undermine our ability to do our jobs.

We hope the Legislature will listen to those who work within the system every day to keep our communities safe.

This story was originally published January 31, 2016 at 9:00 AM with the headline "Steve Howe: A juvenile justice bill in Kansas has big problems."