S.F. No. 4140 Summary

• Establishes the Office of Juvenile Restorative Justice within the Department of Human Services, led by a director with restorative justice and Native American sentencing circle experience.

• Requires local steering committees in every county by January 1, 2024 (or by June 30, 2024 if counties don't participate) to develop and implement local restorative justice programs that emphasize community healing rather than punishment.

• Director must ensure every county has at least one restorative justice program and provide technical support, training resources, and financial guidance to existing and new programs.

• Grants available up to $50,000 annually for existing programs and up to $150,000 (one-time) for new programs; recipients must accept eligible children before or after delinquency petitions and prohibit involuntary out-of-home placements.

• Requires director to review programs at 2 and 5 years after establishment, measuring participant demographics, school graduation rates, recidivism, out-of-home placements, and community satisfaction; annual reports due to legislature by February 15.