§ 75-7023 — Juvenile intake and assessment system; confidentiality of records; information collected; dispositional alternatives; custody of child; conditions of release

(a) The secretary for children and families may contract with the secretary of corrections to provide for the juvenile intake and assessment system and programs for children in need of care. Except as provided further, the secretary of corrections shall promulgate rules and regulations for the juvenile intake and assessment system and programs concerning juvenile offenders. If the secretary contracts with the office of judicial administration to administer the juvenile intake and assessment system and programs concerning juvenile offenders, the supreme court administrative orders shall be in force until such contract ends and the rules and regulations concerning juvenile intake and assessment system and programs concerning juvenile offenders have been adopted.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, records, reports and information obtained as a part of the juvenile intake and assessment process shall not be admitted into evidence in any proceeding and shall not be used in a child in need of care proceeding or a juvenile offender proceeding.
(1) Such records, reports and information may be used in a child in need of care proceeding for diagnostic and referral purposes and by the court in considering dispositional alternatives. If the records, reports or information are in regard to abuse or neglect, which is required to be reported under K.S.A. 38-2223, and amendments thereto, such records, reports or information may then be used for any purpose in a child in need of care proceeding pursuant to the revised Kansas code for care of children.
(2) Such records, reports and information may be used in a juvenile offender proceeding only if such records, reports and information are in regard to the possible trafficking of a runaway. Such records, reports and information in regard to the possible trafficking of a runaway shall be made available to the appropriate county or district attorney and the court, and shall be used only for diagnostic and referral purposes.
(c) Upon a juvenile being taken into custody pursuant to K.S.A. 38-2330, and amendments thereto, a juvenile intake and assessment worker shall complete the intake and assessment process, making release and referral determinations as required by supreme court administrative order or district court rule, or except as provided above [in] rules and regulations established by the secretary of corrections.
(d) Except as provided in subsection (g) and in addition to any other information required by the supreme court administrative order, the secretary for children and families, the secretary of corrections or by the district court of such district, the juvenile intake and assessment worker shall collect the following information either in person or over two-way audio or audio-visual communication:
(1) The results of a standardized detention risk assessment tool pursuant to K.S.A. 38-2302, and amendments thereto, if detention is being considered for the juvenile, such as the problem oriented screening instrument for teens;
(2) criminal history, including indications of criminal gang involvement;
(3) abuse history;
(4) substance abuse history;
(5) history of prior community services used or treatments provided;
(6) educational history;
(7) medical history;
(8) family history; and
(9) the results of other assessment instruments as approved by the secretary.
(e) After completion of the intake and assessment process for such child, the intake and assessment worker shall make both a release and a referral determination:
(1) Release the child to the custody of the child's parent, other legal guardian or another appropriate adult.
(2) Conditionally release the child to the child's parent, other legal guardian or another appropriate adult if the intake and assessment worker believes that if the conditions are met, it would be in the child's best interest to release the child to such child's parent, other legal guardian or another appropriate adult; and the intake and assessment worker has reason to believe that it might be harmful to the child to release the child to such child's parents, other legal guardian or another appropriate adult without imposing the conditions. The conditions may include, but not be limited to the alternatives listed in K.S.A. 38-2331(b), and amendments thereto, and the following:
(A) Participation of the child in counseling;
(B) participation of members of the child's family in counseling;
(C) participation by the child, members of the child's family and other relevant persons in mediation;
(D) provision of outpatient treatment for the child;
(E) referral of the child and the child's family to the secretary for children and families for services and the agreement of the child and family to accept and participate in the services offered;
(F) referral of the child and the child's family to available community resources or services and the agreement of the child and family to accept and participate in the services offered;
(G) requiring the child and members of the child's family to enter into a behavioral contract which may provide for regular school attendance among other requirements; or
(H) any special conditions necessary to protect the child from future abuse or neglect.
(3) Deliver the child to a shelter facility or a licensed attendant care center along with the law enforcement officer's written application for a maximum stay of up to 72 hours. The shelter facility or licensed attendant care facility shall then have custody as if the child had been directly delivered to the facility by the law enforcement officer pursuant to K.S.A. 38-2232, and amendments thereto.
(4) The intake and assessment worker shall also refer the juvenile's case to one of the following:
(A) An immediate intervention program pursuant to K.S.A. 38-2346(b), and amendments thereto;
(B) the county or district attorney for appropriate proceedings to be filed, with or without a recommendation that the juvenile be considered for alternative means of adjudication programs pursuant to K.S.A. 38-2389, and amendments thereto, or immediate intervention pursuant to K.S.A. 38-2346, and amendments thereto; or
(C) refer the child and family to the secretary for children and families for investigations in regard to the allegations.
(f) The secretary of corrections, in conjunction with the office of judicial administration, shall develop, implement and validate on the Kansas juvenile population, a statewide detention risk assessment tool.
(1) The assessment shall be conducted for each youth under consideration for detention and may only be conducted by a juvenile intake and assessment worker who has completed training to conduct the detention risk assessment tool.
(2) The secretary and the office of judicial administration shall establish cutoff scores determining eligibility for placement in a juvenile detention facility or for referral to a community-based alternative to detention and shall collect and report data regarding the use of the detention risk assessment tool.
(3) The detention risk assessment tool includes an override function that may be approved by the court for use under certain circumstances. If approved by the court, the juvenile intake and assessment worker or the court may override the detention risk assessment tool score in order to direct placement in a short-term shelter facility, a community-based alternative to detention or, subject to K.S.A. 38-2331, and amendments thereto, a juvenile detention facility. Such override must be documented, include a written explanation and receive approval from the director of the intake and assessment center or the court.
(4) If a juvenile meets one or more eligibility criteria for detention or referral to a community-based alternative to detention, the person with authority to detain shall maintain discretion to release the juvenile if other less restrictive measures would be adequate.
(g) Parents, guardians and juveniles may access the juvenile intake and assessment programs on a voluntary basis. The parent or guardian shall be responsible for the costs of any such program utilized.
(h) Every juvenile intake and assessment worker shall receive training in evidence-based practices, including, but not limited to:
(1) Risk and needs assessments;
(2) individualized diversions based on needs and strengths;
(3) graduated responses;
(4) family engagement;
(5) trauma-informed care;
(6) substance abuse;
(7) mental health; and
(8) special education.

Legislative History

L. 1996, ch. 229, § 7; L. 1997, ch. 156, § 98; L. 1999, ch. 156, § 24; L. 2006, ch. 169, § 128; L. 2007, ch. 195, § 43; L. 2014, ch. 115, § 403; L. 2016, ch. 102, § 21; L. 2016, ch. 46, § 63; L. 2016, ch. 102, § 22; January 1, 2017.