HB225 - Juvenile Justice System Reform

• Expands early interventions and pre-court services for youth, including mandatory early warning truancy prevention programs in schools before court referral and multidisciplinary agreements to reduce school-based referrals to law enforcement.

• Requires development of statewide detention risk assessment tool by October 1, 2018 (validated by January 1, 2021) and risk and needs assessment tool to inform detention decisions, disposition, and case planning for juveniles.

• Creates Juvenile Justice Reinvestment Fund administered by Department of Youth Services to divert youth from residential placement and fund evidence-based community programs, with oversight committee to monitor implementation and ensure equitable access across all counties.

• Reduces offenses eligible for transfer to adult court from broader categories to specific Class A, B, and C felonies; prohibits fines and court costs assessed directly against children; limits probation length based on offense severity.

• Provides courts discretion to exempt juvenile sex offenders from sex offender registration requirements for certain lower-level offenses (rape in second degree, sodomy in second degree, sexual misconduct, sexual abuse in second degree, indecent exposure, and child pornography) after counseling on dangers of conduct.