We have a brand new updated website! Click here to check it out!

Kansas bill changes where some juvenile offenders are held

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas legislators have given final approval to a bill allowing the state to hold juvenile offenders who have been charged in criminal cases as adults in juvenile facilities.

House members agreed Tuesday to accept Senate amendments to the measure, sending it to Gov. Sam Brownback.

The House vote was 111-5. The Senate approved the bill last week on a 40-0 vote.

Department of Corrections officials said state law currently prevents juveniles charged as adults from being housed with other juvenile offenders. But federal law doesn’t allow juvenile offenders to be held in adult prisons unless they’re separated from adult inmates.

The Department of Corrections said it now is forced to pay other states to house juvenile offenders charged as adults in facilities outside Kansas.

———————-

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas House has given final approval to a bill that would put some juvenile offenders in adult prisons.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reported that House members agreed Tuesday to accept the Senate’s amendments to the bill that both chambers have passed.

The bill passed the House on a 111-5 vote and the Senate approved it last week on a 40-0 vote. It will now go to Gov. Sam Brownback.

The final version of the bill would place all juveniles aged 16 to 18 who were charged as adults into adult prisons. It would also require courts to assess juveniles to determine whether they should be incarcerated or receive alternative punishments.

Democratic Rep. Boog Highberger of Lawrence said federal law prohibits placing juveniles in prisons occupied by adults.

Copyright Eagle Radio | FCC Public Files | EEO Public File