By KPR
Frankfort, KY – Kentucky lawmakers are looking for better ways to deal with youngsters who commit status offenses such as skipping school or running away. Currently, judges in the state are sending such offenders to detention facilities at one of the highest rates in the nation, actions which most experts and advocates say only harms the child. Like, Terry Brooks of Kentucky Youth Advocates who says legislation should build on prison reform that lawmakers passed last year.
"We would never put an adult misdemeanor offender in a cell with an adult felon. But we do that with kids, and my hunch is that those status offenders don't influence the more violent offenders, but the more violent young people unfortunately influence them. So, we're not only not serving them now, but I think we're probably buying a peck of trouble for the future."
Key lawmakers say they are interested in a proposal from Democratic Rep. Kelly Flood of Lexington that would reduce the number of juveniles sent to detention centers. Flood filed a similar bill last year. The issue could be taken up during the next legislative session in January.