Title LI, Unified Juvenile Code

(1) Unless otherwise exempted by KRS Chapters 600 to 645, the juvenile session of the District Court of each county shall have exclusive jurisdiction in proceedings concerning any child living or found within the county who has not reached his or her eighteenth birthday or of any…

concerning temporary detention of suspected runaway. (1) The District Court or the family division of the Circuit Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction of proceedings under this section. (2) Proceedings to temporarily detain a child suspected of being a runaway by means of an e…

Court -- Release of records. (1) A child who is charged with an offense which classifies him for trial as an adult in the Circuit Court or the adult session of the District Court shall, at the time the decision is made by the court to try the child as an adult, be subject to the …

Except as otherwise provided in KRS Chapters 600 to 645: (1) The complaint and all subsequent court documents shall be entitled: "In the interest of ...., a child." The complaint shall be verified and may be upon information and belief. It shall set forth plainly: (a) The facts w…

conference -- Family screening tool -- Diversion agreement and family diversion agreement. Except as otherwise provided in KRS Chapters 600 to 645: (1) If any person files a complaint alleging that a child, except a child alleged to be neglected, abused, dependent, or mentally il…

Duties of Administrative Office of the Courts and school districts -- Responsive Interventions to Support and Empower teams -- Membership and duties -- Annual report -- Sunset. (1) A pilot program shall be established in no less than ten (10) public school districts selected by t…

designated worker -- RISE team -- Notice to county attorney. (1) Upon receipt of a completed truancy intervention precomplaint form required under KRS 159.152(2), the court-designated worker shall: (a) Provide notice to the student and the student's parent, guardian, or other per…

(1) After a public or status offense petition has been filed and after such further investigation as the court may direct, unless the parties appear voluntarily, the court shall issue a summons briefly reciting the substance of the petition and requiring the person who has the cu…

If it appears to the court, by affidavit or by sworn testimony, that the child is a danger to himself or the community, or is in such condition or surroundings that his welfare is being harmed or threatened with harm to such a degree that his best interest requires that his custo…

Payment for counsel. (1) If the Circuit or District Court determines that a formal proceeding is required in the interest of the child or to determine the truth or falsity of the allegations against the child, a petition shall be required pursuant to KRS 610.020, and the court sh…

(1) All cases involving children brought before the court whose cases are under the jurisdiction of the court shall be granted a speedy hearing and shall be dealt with by the court without a jury. (2) The hearings shall be conducted in a formal manner, unless specified to the con…

(1) At any hearing or other proceeding under KRS Chapters 630 to 645, at least one (1) person ordered by the court pursuant to KRS 610.070(4) to attend hearings or proceedings involving the child shall be present. The court shall make reasonable accommodations to allow the person…

authorized by KRS 21A.190. (1) Any statute, administrative procedure, or court rule limiting or prohibiting public attendance at court proceedings conducted under KRS Chapter 620 or 625 shall not apply in a court which is participating in a pilot project authorized by KRS 21A.190…

Juvenile proceedings shall consist of two (2) distinct hearings, an adjudication and a disposition, which shall be held on separate days unless the child, after consultation with an attorney, waives the right to a formal predisposition investigation report and moves that the hear…

Unless the child is proceeded against as an adult in accordance with the law governing crimes as provided in KRS Chapter 635 or 640, the disposition of any child under the provisions of KRS Chapters 600 to 645, or any evidence given in the case, shall not be lawful evidence again…

(1) Unless there is a suitable prior disposition investigation report or unless waived by the child who is represented by counsel, before making disposition of the case of a child brought before the court under the provisions of KRS Chapters 630 or 635, whether by complaint pursu…

(1) Upon the court's motion or the motion of any party, following notice to the county attorney, an informal adjustment may be made at any time during the proceedings and with the victim and with those persons specified in KRS 610.070 having prior notification of the motion. (2) …

(1) The disposition shall determine the action to be taken by the court on behalf of, and in the best interest of, the child under the provisions of KRS Chapter 630 or 635. (2) At the disposition, all information helpful in making a proper disposition, including oral and written …

(1) Except as otherwise provided by KRS Chapters 605 and 635, an order of commitment or an order of supervision or probation made by the court in the case of a child may be terminated at any time prior to expiration on the court's own initiative or on motion by: (a) A child who i…

Justice or cabinet. (1) If a child has been removed from the home and placed in the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice or the cabinet, a judge of the District Court shall conduct a permanency hearing no later than twelve (12) months after the date the child is consider…

reunify child with family. Reasonable efforts as defined in KRS 620.020 shall not be required to be made with respect to a parent of a child if a court of competent jurisdiction determines that the parent has: (1) Subjected the child to aggravated circumstances as defined in KRS …

Unless otherwise exempted, an appeal to the Circuit Court may be taken as a matter of right from the juvenile session of the District Court from dispositional orders under KRS 610.110. The appeal shall be taken in the manner provided in the Rules of Criminal Procedure, and the Ci…

Upon the entry of a dispositional order and an appeal being filed, all issues relating to detention, custody, or participation in court-ordered programs may be reviewed by the Circuit Court upon motion being filed by the child with notice to the county and Commonwealth's attorney…

Upon recommendation of the Department of Juvenile Justice or the cabinet or upon its own initiative, the court may order any parent, guardian, or person exercising similar custodial control or supervision of a child referred to the court to cooperate and actively participate in s…

If it appears from the investigation required in KRS 610.100 or otherwise that the parent or other person exercising custodial control or supervision of any child, or the estate of any child, who has been found to fall within the purview of KRS Chapters 600 to 645 and who has bee…

A parent or other person exercising custodial control or supervision of a child is charged with the control of such child and shall have the power to exercise parental control and authority over such child. In any case where a child is adjudicated a public offender and placed on …

laws -- Protective custody by peace officer -- Custody by person other than peace officer. (1) The law relating to the persons by whom and the circumstances under which a person may be arrested for a public offense shall be applicable to children, but the taking of a child into c…

(1) When a peace officer has taken or received a child into custody on a charge of committing an offense, the officer shall immediately inform the child of his constitutional rights and afford him the protections required thereunder, notify the parent, or if the child is committe…

Extension -- Separation from adult prisoners -- Prohibition against attaching child to stationary object. (1) Except as otherwise provided by statute, if an officer takes or receives a child into custody on an allegation of committing a public offense or into protective custody o…

without formal charges filed. The peace officer may divert the child from the formal court process and take the child to a court-approved center offering voluntary services to children and release the child without formal charges being filed, if: (1) The offense the child has all…

detention hearing -- Release of child required if hearing not held as specified. (1) (a) Any child who is alleged to be a status offender or who is accused of being in contempt of court on an underlying finding that the child is a status offender may be detained in accordance wit…

The following persons shall not be detained in a secure juvenile detention facility: (1) A nonoffender; or (2) Any child charged with a violation of a statute or local ordinance pertaining to curfew.

(1) At the detention hearing held pursuant to KRS 610.265, the court shall make separate findings as follows: (a) If there is probable cause to believe that an offense has been committed and that the accused child committed that offense. Probable cause may be established in the s…

(1) Unless a hearing is held within the time frame established by KRS 610.265, and the necessity for detention properly established, the child shall be released to the custody of his parents, person exercising custodial control or supervision or other responsible adult pending fu…

when adjudication based on status offense or public offense -- Payment schedule and discharge. (1) Any statute to the contrary notwithstanding, detention costs shall not be assessed by a court against a parent unless the court has conducted a hearing and has determined: (a) That …

(1) Physical evidence shall be obtained and utilized in the investigation of public offenses involving children in the same manner as it is obtained and utilized in the investigation of public offenses involving adults. (2) Except for fingerprint records, all records and physical…

(1) When the mental or physical health of any child before the juvenile court requires it, the court may order the child to be placed in a public or private hospital or institution for examination, evaluation, treatment, or care by a health officer, comprehensive care center, chi…

and police records concerning juvenile prohibited -- Exceptions -- Use of juvenile records in court. (1) A special record book shall be kept by the court for all cases, to be known as the "juvenile record," and the docket or calendar of such cases shall be called the "juvenile do…

(1) (a) Any child who has been adjudicated as coming within the purview of KRS Chapter 630, 635, or 645, but not KRS Chapter 620 or 640, may petition the court for the expungement of offenses from his or her juvenile court record. He or she shall be informed of such right at the …

(1) (a) Unless a specific provision of KRS Chapters 600 to 645 specifies otherwise, all juvenile court records of any nature generated pursuant to KRS Chapters 600 to 645 by any agency or instrumentality, public or private, shall be deemed to be confidential and shall not be disc…

Enforcement by court order. (1) Any statute to the contrary notwithstanding, an attorney representing a child in any proceeding under KRS Chapters 600 to 645 or in any adult criminal proceeding shall have full access to all records, including juvenile records, held by law enforce…

or petitioner in certain cases, or when county attorney makes probable cause determination -- Disclosure of records -- Provision of offense history to school officials. (1) When a child is adjudicated guilty of an offense which classifies him or her as a youthful offender, the ju…

(1) In proceedings in the juvenile session of the District Court, no court fees shall be charged against, and no witness fees shall be allowed to, any party to a petition. No public officer shall be entitled to receive any fee from the service of process or for attendance in cour…

(1) Court costs commensurate with those in District or Circuit Court, as appropriate, shall be charged by the juvenile session of District Court against juveniles who are informally adjusted or found delinquent because of status offenses or public offenses and by the Circuit Cour…

Any person who intentionally violates any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor.