Criminal Justice (Juvenile Justice) in Kansas

in committee · Kansas · House Feb 20, 2025

HB 2179: Prohibiting fines and fees from being assessed against a juvenile or a juvenile's parent, guardian or custodian in a case pursuant to the revised Kansas juvenile justice code.

HB 2179 prohibits courts from imposing fines, fees, costs, or other financial obligations against juveniles or their parents, guardians, or custodians in cases under Kansas' juvenile justice system. It requires the automatic discharge of all existing court-ordered financial obligations related to juvenile cases as of July 1, 2025, and mandates the immediate release of juveniles held solely for nonpayment. The bill explicitly excludes restitution payments from this prohibition. This legislation amends multiple statutes to implement these changes across Kansas' juvenile justice code.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Victims' Rights

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2325: Authorizing judges to commit juvenile offenders to detention for technical violations of probation, increasing the cumulative detention limit for juvenile offenders and increasing criminal penalties for juvenile offenders who use a firearm in the commission of an offense or who are repeat offenders.

HB 2325 allows judges in Kansas to commit juvenile offenders to detention for technical violations of probation (such as missing appointments), which were previously excluded from detention. It increases the maximum total time a juvenile can be held in detention (cumulative detention limit) and raises criminal penalties for juveniles who use a firearm during an offense or have prior offenses. The bill amends specific sections of Kansas's juvenile justice code to implement these changes, directly affecting juvenile offenders in the state who face probation violations or firearm-related crimes. These provisions adjust sentencing and supervision practices under the revised juvenile justice framework.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Firearms Juvenile Justice Probation & Parole

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 111: Prohibiting fines and fees from being assessed against a juvenile or a juvenile's parent, guardian or custodian in a case pursuant to the revised Kansas juvenile justice code.

SB 111 prohibits courts from imposing fines, fees, costs, or other financial obligations against juveniles or their parents, guardians, or custodians in cases under Kansas' juvenile justice code. It retroactively discharges all existing outstanding financial debts related to juvenile cases as of July 1, 2025, and requires immediate release from detention or supervision for juveniles held solely due to unpaid fees. The bill also bars collection of such debts through third-party agents and excludes restitution (payments for harm caused) from the prohibition. This applies directly to all juvenile court proceedings in Kansas, affecting families and youth involved in the state's juvenile justice system.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Victims' Rights

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2076: Reducing the authorized amount of days that a child may be placed in a secure facility and eliminating the court's option to extend such authorization.

HB 2076 reduces the maximum number of days a court can authorize placing a child in a secure facility and eliminates the court's ability to extend that period. This change directly affects children in Kansas child welfare cases who are subject to court orders for secure placement, typically those adjudicated as "children in need of care" under specific legal criteria. The bill amends K.S.A. 38-2260 to set a fixed, shorter time limit for such placements without allowing extensions. This policy shift limits the duration children may be held in secure facilities during court proceedings.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2350: Providing that no juvenile less than 18 years of age shall be prosecuted as an adult.

HB 2350 prohibits prosecuting any juvenile under 18 as an adult in Kansas. It directly affects all individuals under 18 accused of crimes, removing the possibility of adult criminal prosecution regardless of offense severity. The bill amends Kansas law to state explicitly that "no juvenile less than 18 years of age shall be prosecuted as an adult" and repeals the previous section allowing such prosecutions. This eliminates the court process for prosecutors to request adult prosecution for minors under 18, ensuring all juveniles under 18 remain under juvenile court jurisdiction.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2227: Prohibiting the use of any prone restraint on a juvenile who is in custody at a juvenile detention facility or juvenile correctional facility or being assessed as part of the juvenile intake and assessment system.

HB 2227 prohibits the use of prone restraints (holding a juvenile face-down) on juveniles in custody at juvenile detention or correctional facilities, or during the juvenile intake and assessment process. The bill amends Kansas' juvenile justice code to explicitly ban this practice for all personnel in these settings. This law directly affects juveniles under state custody and those undergoing initial assessments in the juvenile justice system. The prohibition applies immediately to all relevant facilities and staff under the state's juvenile justice code.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

signed · Kansas · Senate Apr 11, 2025

SB 204: Providing that the attorney members of the board of trustees of the county law library in certain counties shall be appointed by the chief judge of the judicial district, allowing such boards to authorize the chief judge to use certain fees for the purpose of facilitating and enhancing functions of the district court of the county and requiring the case, warrant and subpoena information be sealed in criminal and juvenile offender cases.

SB 204 requires Kansas courts to keep criminal and juvenile case records, warrants, and subpoenas confidential until warrants are executed or requests are denied. Law enforcement may still access these records for warrant execution, but public access is restricted otherwise. The law applies retroactively to all pending cases and mandates courts to make written "good cause" findings before sealing records, balancing privacy/safety concerns against public access to court proceedings. It directly affects defendants in criminal/juvenile cases, courts, and law enforcement by changing how sensitive case information is handled.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Judges Juvenile Justice

All criminal justice bills

HB 2179: Prohibiting fines and fees from being assessed against a juvenile or a juvenile's parent, guardian or custodian in a case pursuant to the revised Kansas juvenile justice code.

SB 111: Prohibiting fines and fees from being assessed against a juvenile or a juvenile's parent, guardian or custodian in a case pursuant to the revised Kansas juvenile justice code.

HB 2076: Reducing the authorized amount of days that a child may be placed in a secure facility and eliminating the court's option to extend such authorization.

HB 2350: Providing that no juvenile less than 18 years of age shall be prosecuted as an adult.

HB 2227: Prohibiting the use of any prone restraint on a juvenile who is in custody at a juvenile detention facility or juvenile correctional facility or being assessed as part of the juvenile intake and assessment system.