Title LI, Unified Juvenile Code

(1) KRS Chapters 600 to 645 shall be known as the Kentucky Unified Juvenile Code. (2) KRS Chapters 600 to 645 shall be interpreted to effectuate the following express legislative purposes: (a) The Commonwealth shall direct its efforts to promoting protection of children; to the s…

As used in KRS Chapters 600 to 645, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Abused or neglected child" means a child whose health or welfare is harmed or threatened with harm when: (a) His or her parent, guardian, person in a position of authority or special trust, as defined…

The cabinet shall not issue administrative regulations to implement the provisions of this chapter unless the Juvenile Code specifically authorizes their issuance. Regulations, when issued, shall not exceed the bounds of the specific authorization provided in this chapter.

Justice. When KRS 605.090, 605.100, 605.110, 605.115, 610.110, or any other section of this code refer jointly to the operation of a program or service by both the Department of Juvenile Justice and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, the following divisions are intended:…

protection or needing extraordinary services. (1) For the purposes of this section: (a) A child is deemed to need extraordinary services if the child is mentally or emotionally ill or has symptoms of mental or emotional illness and requires medical attention, and the child's pare…

Notwithstanding any other provision of KRS Chapter 600 to 645, the inherent contempt power of the court shall not be diminished, except that an order of detention for a child found in contempt shall not exceed thirty (30) days.

Pursuant to the authority granted to the Commonwealth under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. sec. 1232g, when a statute within KRS Chapters 600 to 645 refers to the release of educational records, the purpose of the release shall be limited to providing th…

In each judicial district there shall be a court-designated worker or agency. The number of persons assigned as court-designated workers shall be determined by the Administrative Office of the Courts.

tracking, and reporting -- Graduated response protocol -- Complaint form. (1) Standards for the employment of court-designated workers shall be set by the Administrative Office of the Courts. (2) If the Administrative Office of the Courts contracts with a public agency for the pr…

(1) A court-designated worker may: (a) Receive complaints; (b) Review complaints taken by peace officers; (c) Investigate complaints except neglect, abuse, and dependency; (d) Perform an initial screening for human trafficking as defined in KRS 529.010 for referral to the cabinet…

A court-designated worker shall not: (1) Issue arrest or search warrants; (2) Supervise a child following his adjudication when the child is committed to the cabinet or placed on probation under the supervision of the cabinet or any other agency or individual; (3) Perform any cle…

Training. (1) In counties containing a city of the first class or a city with a population equal to or greater than twenty thousand (20,000) as of the most recent federal decennial census, the county judge/executive may appoint a chief probation officer of the juvenile court and …

Probation officers appointed pursuant to KRS 605.050 shall: (1) Except as otherwise provided in KRS Chapter 645, make investigations as provided in this chapter, including the administration of a validated risk and needs assessment; (2) Be present in court to represent the intere…

(1) Any child ordered to be transported, by a committing or sentencing court, shall be transported by the sheriff or the jailer of that county. Any other law enforcement agency may enter into agreements with the court, sheriff, or jailer to transport juveniles. (2) Any peace offi…

inappropriate behavior of child -- Procedures for removal of child committed as dependent, neglected, or abused -- Reports -- Written transfer summary -- Placement of public offenders. (1) Unless precluded by law, any child committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice or the c…

By August 1, 2000, the Department of Juvenile Justice shall provide, based on available general fund appropriations, a day treatment program accessible to every school district in each judicial region of the state. The day treatment programs shall combine therapeutic and academic…

programs -- Transfer of juveniles to Department of Corrections facilities. (1) The Department of Juvenile Justice shall operate or contract for the operation of any postadjudication juvenile detention or treatment facility in which a juvenile is confined for a public offense or a…

needs and risk assessment. (1) The Department of Juvenile Justice or the cabinet shall arrange for a program of care, treatment, and rehabilitation of the children committed to it, which program shall be designed to provide for classification, segregation, and specialized treatme…

standard for child's participation in age or developmentally appropriate activities -- Limitation of liability -- Cabinet official's immunity not abrogated or diminished -- Cabinet and caregiver to verify appropriateness of child's application for operator's license or permit -- …

committed children -- Kentucky Educational Collaborative for State Agency Children -- Personnel -- Financing. (1) (a) Any child committed to or in the custody of the cabinet or the Department of Juvenile Justice who is not placed in a location where smoking cessation services are…

matches for services for eligible children with disabilities. The commissioner of the Department of Juvenile Justice and the secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, with the cooperation of the Kentucky Board of Education and the commissioner of education, shall i…

foster parents -- Pilot projects -- Relative caregiver and fictive kin services data reporting -- Decisions regarding haircuts and hairstyles. (1) The cabinet is authorized to expend available funds to provide for the board, lodging, and care of children who would otherwise be pl…

The cabinet may allow foster parents to receive child-care benefits if the foster parents are working outside the home or teleworking inside the home, subject to other eligibility requirements required by federal or state law.

In addition to the other duties, functions, and responsibilities imposed by law, the cabinet, through its authorized representatives, shall have general supervision and management of all matters contained in KRS 620.150 and 620.170 and shall, wherever possible: (1) Locate and pla…

cabinet is representative payee -- Annual review -- Cabinet duties -- Administrative regulations. (1) (a) For all children in the care and custody of the cabinet, the cabinet shall determine within sixty (60) days after entry into care whether each child is receiving or eligible …

(1) The Chief District Judge may appoint a board of not less than six (6) nor more than ten (10) reputable inhabitants of the county to be called the Advisory Board of the Juvenile Court. The members of the board shall hold office during the pleasure of the judge and shall serve …

(1) The cabinet may promulgate administrative regulations to implement the provisions of this chapter. (2) The Department of Juvenile Justice may promulgate administrative regulations to implement the provisions of this chapter. (3) The cabinet and the department shall not promul…

cause hearing. (1) The cabinet, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the Kentucky Department of Education shall provide information to the individuals and entities contracting with the cabinet and the Department of Juvenile Justice to provide services and care to children comm…

-- Information system to track threats and violent incidents against staff -- Safety liaisons. (1) Each staff member of the department shall report to his or her supervisor any physical or verbal conduct of a client or an individual associated with a client that appears to be thr…

(1) Any person who intentionally violates any provision of this chapter, other than KRS 605.080(4), shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. (2) Any person who intentionally violates KRS 605.080(4), shall be guilty of a violation.

(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…