2011 Kansas Code
Chapter 38. - MINORS
Article 23. - REVISED KANSAS JUVENILE JUSTICE CODE
38-2369 Sentencing juvenile offenders; placement matrix; placements based on offense committed; aftercare term.

38-2369. Sentencing juvenile offenders; placement matrix; placements based on offense committed; aftercare term. (a) For the purpose of committing juvenile offenders to a juvenile correctional facility, the following placements shall be applied by the judge in felony or misdemeanor cases. If used, the court shall establish a specific term of commitment as specified in this subsection, unless the judge conducts a departure hearing and finds substantial and compelling reasons to impose a departure sentence as provided in K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 38-2371, and amendments thereto.

(1) Violent Offenders. (A) The violent offender I is defined as an offender adjudicated as a juvenile offender for an offense which, if committed by an adult, would constitute an off-grid felony. Offenders in this category may be committed to a juvenile correctional facility for a minimum term of 60 months and up to a maximum term of the offender reaching the age of 22 years, six months. The aftercare term for this offender is set at a minimum term of six months and up to a maximum term of the offender reaching the age of 23 years.

(B) The violent offender II is defined as an offender adjudicated as a juvenile offender for an offense which, if committed by an adult, would constitute a nondrug level 1, 2 or 3 felony. Offenders in this category may be committed to a juvenile correctional facility for a minimum term of 24 months and up to a maximum term of the offender reaching the age 22 years, six months. The aftercare term for this offender is set at a minimum term of six months and up to a maximum term of the offender reaching the  age of 23 years.

(2) Serious Offenders. (A) The serious offender I is defined as an offender adjudicated as a juvenile offender for an offense which, if committed by an adult, would constitute a nondrug severity level 4, 5 or 6 person felony or a severity level 1 or 2 drug felony. Offenders in this category may be committed to a juvenile correctional facility for a minimum term of 18 months and up to a maximum term of 36 months. The aftercare term for this offender is set at a minimum term of six months and up to a maximum term of 24 months.

(B) The serious offender II is defined as an offender adjudicated as a juvenile offender for an offense which, if committed by an adult, would constitute a nondrug severity level 7, 8, 9 or 10 person felony with one prior felony adjudication. Offenders in this category may be committed to a juvenile correctional facility for a minimum term of nine months and up to a maximum term of 18 months. The aftercare term for this offender is set at a minimum term of six months and up to a maximum term of 24 months.

(3) Chronic Offenders. (A) The chronic offender I, chronic felon is defined as an offender adjudicated as a juvenile offender for an offense which, if committed by an adult, would constitute:

(i) One present nonperson felony adjudication and two prior felony adjudications; or

(ii) one present severity level 3 drug felony adjudication and two prior felony adjudications.

Offenders in this category may be committed to a juvenile correctional facility for a minimum term of six months and up to a maximum term of 18 months. The aftercare term for this offender is set at a minimum term of six months and up to a maximum term of 12 months.

(B) The chronic offender II, escalating felon is defined as an offender adjudicated as a juvenile offender for an offense which, if committed by an adult, would constitute:

(i) One present felony adjudication and either two prior misdemeanor adjudications or one prior person or nonperson felony adjudication;

(ii) one present felony adjudication and two prior severity level 4 drug adjudications;

(iii) one present severity level 3 drug felony adjudication and either two prior misdemeanor adjudications or one prior person or nonperson felony adjudication; or

(iv) one present severity level 3 drug felony adjudication and two prior severity level 4 drug adjudications.

Offenders in this category may be committed to a juvenile correctional facility for a minimum term of six months and up to a maximum term of 18 months. The aftercare term for this offender is set at a minimum term of six months and up to a maximum term of 12 months.

(C) The chronic offender III, escalating misdemeanant is defined as an offender adjudicated as a juvenile offender for an offense which, if committed by an adult, would constitute:

(i) One present misdemeanor adjudication and either two prior misdemeanor adjudications or one prior person or nonperson felony adjudication and two placement failures;

(ii) one present misdemeanor adjudication and two prior severity level 4 drug felony adjudications and two placement failures;

(iii) one present severity level 4 drug felony adjudication and either two prior misdemeanor adjudications or one prior person or nonperson felony adjudication and two placement failures; or

(iv) one present severity level 4 drug felony adjudication and two prior severity level 4 drug felony adjudications and two  placement failures.

Offenders in this category may be committed to a juvenile correctional facility for a minimum term of three months and up to a maximum term of six months. The aftercare term for this offender is set at a minimum term of three months and up to a maximum term of six months.

(4) Conditional Release Violators. Upon finding the juvenile violated a requirement or requirements of conditional release, the court may:

(A) Subject to the limitations in subsection (a) of K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 38-2366, and amendments thereto, commit the offender directly to a juvenile correctional facility for a minimum term of three months and up to a maximum term of six months. The aftercare term for this offender shall be a minimum of two months and a maximum of six months, or the length of the aftercare originally ordered, which ever is longer.

(B) Enter one or more of the following orders:

(i) Recommend additional conditions be added to those of the existing conditional release.

(ii) Order the offender to serve a period of sanctions pursuant to subsection (f) of K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 38-2361, and amendments thereto.

(iii) Revoke or restrict the juvenile's driving privileges as described in subsection (c) of K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 38-2361, and amendments thereto.

(C) Discharge the offender from the custody of the commissioner, release the commissioner from further responsibilities in the case and enter any other appropriate orders.

(b) As used in this section: (1) "Placement failure" means a juvenile offender in the custody of the juvenile justice authority has significantly failed the terms of conditional release or has been placed out-of-home in a community placement accredited by the commissioner and has significantly violated the terms of that placement or violated the terms of probation.

(2) "Adjudication" includes out-of-state juvenile adjudications. An out-of-state offense, which if committed by an adult would constitute the commission of a felony or misdemeanor, shall be classified as either a felony or a misdemeanor according to the adjudicating jurisdiction. If an offense which if committed by an adult would constitute the commission of a felony  is a felony in another state, it will be deemed a felony in Kansas. The state of Kansas shall classify the offense, which if committed by an adult would constitute the commission of a felony or misdemeanor, as person or nonperson. In designating such offense as person or nonperson, reference to comparable offenses shall be made. If the state of Kansas does not have a comparable offense, the out-of-state adjudication shall be classified as a nonperson offense.

(c) All appropriate community placement options shall have been exhausted before a chronic offender III, escalating misdemeanant shall be placed in a juvenile correctional facility. A court finding shall be made acknowledging that appropriate community placement options have been pursued and no such option is appropriate.

(d) The commissioner shall work with the community to provide on-going support and incentives for the development of additional community placements to ensure that the chronic offender III, escalating misdemeanant sentencing category is not frequently utilized.