Senate Bill 19-108: Juvenile Justice Reform

• Creates Juvenile Justice Reform Committee: Establishes a 30-member committee to develop validated risk and needs assessment tools, mental health screening tools, and risk screening tools for use across the juvenile justice system by September 1, 2019, and finalizes recommendations by January 1, 2021.

• Implements Validated Assessment Tools: Requires courts, the Division of Youth Services, and juvenile probation to use standardized validated risk and needs assessments to guide detention decisions, case planning, supervision levels, and release determinations.

• Restricts Detention Use: Prohibits detention for juveniles ages 10-12 unless arrested for felonies or weapons charges; limits detention to juveniles posing "substantial risk of serious harm to others" rather than general danger; and requires use of detention screening instruments before removal from parental custody.

• Establishes Graduated Responses System: Requires development of community-based graduated sanctions and incentives for probation violations by January 1, 2021, prioritizing least-restrictive alternatives before formal revocation proceedings.

• Enhances Diversion and Restorative Justice: Expands diversion program eligibility and funding allocation by judicial district; protects confidentiality of screening and diversion information; and integrates restorative justice practices to reduce system involvement for low-risk youth.