Children Behind Bars: Kentucky Ranks #2 in Status Offense Incarceration

Rebecca Ballard DiLoreto, Esq will guest host. Children are charged with status offenses for violating laws just for them; offenses include skipping school, running away from home or being beyond control of one's parents or school. In 1974, President Johnson initiated reform to end the lock up of children charged with such offenses. Most states engaged in this initiative and stopped jailing children charged with truancy and similar offenses. However, in recent years, Kentucky's numbers of children incarcerated for these non-criminal actions has increased and Kentucky has ranked number two in the nation for incarceration of children charged with status offenses. What is the impact of incarcerating children on status offenses? Do judges have other options to help children? Does incarcerating children help them. On February 9th, we will hear from an experienced attorney, a community worker dedicated to creating alternatives to detention and a mother on the impact of current practices in Kentucky.