Justice Cabinet

Frankfort, Ky.- United States Attorney General Janet Reno joined Governor Paul Patton today in signing an agreed order that ends the state’s juvenile justice consent decree, which was established with the Department of Justice in December 1995 to improve juvenile confinement in state-operated treatment facilities.

"I am proud to be a part of this initiative here today and to pledge my continual support for juvenile services in this state," Governor Patton said. "Just because the consent decree ends today does not mean this administration’s commitment to juvenile justice is finished. On the contrary, our departure from the consent decree today will help us move forward at a greater pace."

The consent decree was created after federal officials determined that conditions of juvenile confinement at Kentucky’s state-operated residential treatment facilities violated the statutory and constitutional rights of juveniles. Kentucky voluntarily entered into the consent decree to improve conditions of juveniles.

"The beauty of our system is that it gives a departmental-level focus on one of the toughest issues that faces every county in this state and every state in this nation," Justice Cabinet Sec. Robert F. Stephens said. "And many people think the problem of juvenile crime is literally unsolvable, but over the last several years, this focus has helped to measurably decrease juvenile crime in Kentucky by giving each juvenile the tools and the inspiration needed to turn his or her life in the right direction."

The consent decree called for Kentucky to establish a department that would work to improve conditions of juvenile confinement in state-operated residential treatment facilities. The state developed the Department of Juvenile Justice, and over the past five years, it, under the leadership of Commissioner Ralph E. Kelly, Ed.D., has worked diligently to implement provisions of the consent decree.

These provisions include creating a pre-service training academy for direct care juvenile justice staff; an internal investigations unit and a board-certified physician to guide the provision of medical services in facilities.

"The department’s successes in transforming Kentucky’s juvenile justice system from a system in need of massive reform to a system that now stands among the best in the nation would have been impossible if not for the vision of Governor Patton, the support of the General Assembly, and the dedication of our staff," Kelly said.