KANSAS GOVERNOR LAURA KELLY WANTS TO BUILD A NEW JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITY IN SEDGWICK COUNTY IF RE-ELECTED. KELLY SAYS MOST OF THE JUVENILES NOW IN CUSTODY ARE FROM THE WICHITA-AREA. SHE ALSO SAYS THE NEW FACILITY COULD REPLACE THE CURRENT ONE LOCATED IN TOPEKA.
LEADERS WITH PROGENY, THOUGH, SAY THAT’S NOT ENOUGH TO HELP KANSAS YOUTH. THE GROUP IS FOCUSED ON CHANGING THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM. PROGENY’S LEADERS SAY THAT JAIL DOESN’T HELP A CHILD, IT DOESN’T HEAL A CHILD, ADDING THAT POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL SUPPORTS ARE WHAT IS BEST SHOWN TO CHANGE BEHAVIORS AND DELIVERING THOSE IN A CHILD’S HOME COMMUNITY WHERE THEY HAVE THEIR SOCIAL SUPPORT IS WHAT IS MOST EFFECTIVE.
ACCORDING TO FEBRUARY DATA FROM THE KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, ABOUT 150 JUVENILES WERE INCARCERATED AT THE FACILITY. THEY STAY FOR AN AVERAGE OF A YEAR.
