(1) KRS Chapters 600 to 645 shall be known as the Kentucky Unified Juvenile Code.
(2) KRS Chapters 600 to 645 shall be interpreted to effectuate the following express legislative purposes:
(a) The Commonwealth shall direct its efforts to promoting protection of children; to the strengthening and encouragement of family life for the protection and care of children; to strengthening and maintaining the biological family unit; to ensuring that policies and practices utilized are supported by data and research and are monitored or measured for their effectiveness in achieving the intended results; and to offering all available resources to any family in need of them;
(b) It also shall be declared to be the policy of this Commonwealth that:
1. All efforts shall be directed toward providing each child a safe and nurturing home;
2. Emphasis shall be placed on involving families in interventions developed for youth, providing families with access to services necessary to address issues within the family, and increasing accountability of the youth and families within the juvenile justice system; 3. To the extent possible, out-of-home placement should only be utilized for youth who are high-risk or high-level offenders, and that low-risk, low-level offenders should be served through evidence-based programming in their community; and
4. As the population in Department of Juvenile Justice facilities is reduced through increased use of community-based treatment, and if staffing ratios can be maintained at the levels required by accreditation bodies, reductions of the number of facilities should be considered;
(c) The court shall show that other less restrictive alternatives have been attempted or are not feasible in order to insure that children are not removed from families except when absolutely necessary;
(d) Any child brought before the court under KRS Chapters 600 to 645 shall have a right to treatment reasonably calculated, through the use of evidence-based programs when available, to bring about an improvement of his or her condition and, to the extent possible, have that treatment administered in the county of residence of the custodial parent or parents or in the nearest available county;
(e) KRS Chapter 635 shall be interpreted to promote the best interests of the child through providing treatment and sanctions to reduce recidivism and assist in making the child a productive citizen by involving the family, as appropriate, and by advancing the principles of personal responsibility, accountability, and reformation, while maintaining public safety, and seeking restitution and reparation;
(f) KRS Chapter 640 shall be interpreted to promote public safety and the concept that every child be held accountable for his or her conduct through the use of restitution, reparation, and sanctions, in an effort to rehabilitate delinquent youth; and
(g) It shall further be the policy of this Commonwealth to provide judicial procedures in which rights and interests of all parties, including the parents and victims, are recognized and all parties are assured prompt and fair hearings. Unless otherwise provided, such protections belong to the child individually and may not be waived by any other party. Effective: July 15, 2014 History: Amended 2014 Ky. Acts ch. 132, sec. 23, effective July 15, 2014. -- Amended 2002 Ky. Acts ch. 257, sec. 20, effective July 15, 2002. -- Amended 2000 Ky. Acts ch. 534, sec. 5, effective July 14, 2000. -- Amended 1998 Ky. Acts ch. 57, sec. 1, effective March 17, 1998. -- Created 1986 Ky. Acts ch. 423, sec. 1, effective July 1, 1987. Legislative Research Commission Note. 1986 Ky. Acts ch. 423, sec. 199 provides: "KRS 446.250 to 446.320 to the contrary notwithstanding, [1986 Ky. Acts ch. 423] shall prevail in the event of a conflict between [1986 Ky. Acts ch. 423] and other Acts passed by the 1986 regular session of the General Assembly."
Notes of Decisions
Cited in
54
cases (
11 in the last 5 years), 1988–2026 · leading case:
Giuliani v. Guiler, 951 S.W.2d 318 (Ky. 1997).
Giuliani v. Guiler, 951 S.W.2d 318 (Ky. 1997).
· cites it 4× “KRS 600.010. It has also recognized the individuality of the child and the value to a family by providing parents a consortium claim for the loss of the love and affection of their child.”
R.S. v. Commonwealth, 423 S.W.3d 178 (Ky. 2014).
· cites it 5× “060(1) — in conjunction with KRS 600.010(1) — dictates a trial court hold a restitution hearing and make findings that restitution, in whatever form the trial court orders, serves the best interest of the child.”
N.C. v. Commonwealth, 396 S.W.3d 852 (Ky. 2013).
· cites it 3× “Ignoring a fact so important as a credible, but ill-advised and uninformed admission in a juvenile action also impedes that directive of KRS 600.010(2)(d) that mandates, “[a]ny child brought before the court under KRS Chapters 600 to 645 shall have a right to treatment…”
Humphrey v. Commonwealth, 153 S.W.3d 854 (Ky. Ct. App. 2004).
· cites it 4× “This statute provides essential protections for juveniles consistent with the legislative intent set forth in KRS 600.010. Whether a juvenile, his attorney, the Commonwealth or even the District Court Judge wishes to expedite the matter by waiving the hearing is not the…”
Smith v. Vilvarajah, 57 S.W.3d 839 (Ky. Ct. App. 2000).
· cites it 2× “KRS 600.010. Clearly, this interest would not be served by extending a claim for loss of parental consortium to emancipated adult children.”
F. v. Brown, 306 S.W.3d 80 (Ky. 2010).
· cites it 2× “” KRS 600.010(2)(e). Juvenile hearings are not open to the public, KRS 610.”
Commonwealth v. S.K., 253 S.W.3d 486 (Ky. 2008).
· cites it 3× “In determining the disposition (or sentence) of a public offender, the juvenile court shall consider KRS 600.010(2)(e) and (g): (e) KRS Chapter 635 shall be interpreted to promote the best interests of the child through providing treatment and sanctions to reduce recidivism and…”
Cabinet for Health & Fam. v. J.M.G., 475 S.W.3d 600 (Ky. 2015).
“In addition to incorporating the General Assembly’s statements of purpose in KRS 600.010 and KRS 620.010 — the fundamental purpose being to protect children, preferably by maintaining and strengthening the biological family unit, but if necessary by pursuing alternatives to that…”
Phelps v. Commonwealth, 125 S.W.3d 237 (Ky. 2004).
· cites it 2× “See KRS 600.010(2)(d) (“[a]ny child brought before the court under KRS Chapters 600 to 645 shall have a right to treatment reasonably calculated to bring about an improvement of his or her condition .”
Jackson v. Commonwealth, 363 S.W.3d 11 (Ky. 2012).
“” KRS 600.010(2)(e). Under some circumstances, however, a juvenile can be deemed a youthful offender.”
Commonwealth v. Merriman, 265 S.W.3d 196 (Ky. 2008).
“The intent of the Juvenile Code was set forth by the legislature in KRS 600.010: “[PJromoting protection of children”; that “Any child .”
Edwards v. Harrod, 391 S.W.3d 755 (Ky. 2013).
“KRS 600.010(2)(f). . Chipman v. Commonwealth, 313 S.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 600.010(1) — 1 case
R.S. v. Commonwealth, 423 S.W.3d 178 (Ky. 2014).
“060(1) — in conjunction with KRS 600.010(1) — dictates a trial court hold a restitution hearing and make findings that restitution, in whatever form the trial court orders, serves the best interest of the child.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 600.010(1)(a) — 1 case
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 600.010(2) — 6 cases
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 600.010(2)(a) — 8 cases
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 600.010(2)(b) — 1 case
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 600.010(2)(c) — 14 cases
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 600.010(2)(d) — 9 cases
R.S. v. Commonwealth, 423 S.W.3d 178 (Ky. 2014).
“060(1) — in conjunction with KRS 600.010(1) — dictates a trial court hold a restitution hearing and make findings that restitution, in whatever form the trial court orders, serves the best interest of the child.”
N.C. v. Commonwealth, 396 S.W.3d 852 (Ky. 2013).
“Ignoring a fact so important as a credible, but ill-advised and uninformed admission in a juvenile action also impedes that directive of KRS 600.010(2)(d) that mandates, “[a]ny child brought before the court under KRS Chapters 600 to 645 shall have a right to treatment…”
Phelps v. Commonwealth, 125 S.W.3d 237 (Ky. 2004).
“See KRS 600.010(2)(d) (“[a]ny child brought before the court under KRS Chapters 600 to 645 shall have a right to treatment reasonably calculated to bring about an improvement of his or her condition .”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 600.010(2)(e) — 11 cases
R.S. v. Commonwealth, 423 S.W.3d 178 (Ky. 2014).
“060(1) — in conjunction with KRS 600.010(1) — dictates a trial court hold a restitution hearing and make findings that restitution, in whatever form the trial court orders, serves the best interest of the child.”
F. v. Brown, 306 S.W.3d 80 (Ky. 2010).
“” KRS 600.010(2)(e). Juvenile hearings are not open to the public, KRS 610.”
Humphrey v. Commonwealth, 153 S.W.3d 854 (Ky. Ct. App. 2004).
“This statute provides essential protections for juveniles consistent with the legislative intent set forth in KRS 600.010. Whether a juvenile, his attorney, the Commonwealth or even the District Court Judge wishes to expedite the matter by waiving the hearing is not the…”
Jackson v. Commonwealth, 363 S.W.3d 11 (Ky. 2012).
“” KRS 600.010(2)(e). Under some circumstances, however, a juvenile can be deemed a youthful offender.”
N.C. v. Commonwealth, 396 S.W.3d 852 (Ky. 2013).
“Ignoring a fact so important as a credible, but ill-advised and uninformed admission in a juvenile action also impedes that directive of KRS 600.010(2)(d) that mandates, “[a]ny child brought before the court under KRS Chapters 600 to 645 shall have a right to treatment…”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 600.010(2)(f) — 3 cases
Edwards v. Harrod, 391 S.W.3d 755 (Ky. 2013).
“KRS 600.010(2)(f). . Chipman v. Commonwealth, 313 S.”
Phelps v. Commonwealth, 125 S.W.3d 237 (Ky. 2004).
“See KRS 600.010(2)(d) (“[a]ny child brought before the court under KRS Chapters 600 to 645 shall have a right to treatment reasonably calculated to bring about an improvement of his or her condition .”
Commonwealth v. S.K., 253 S.W.3d 486 (Ky. 2008).
“In determining the disposition (or sentence) of a public offender, the juvenile court shall consider KRS 600.010(2)(e) and (g): (e) KRS Chapter 635 shall be interpreted to promote the best interests of the child through providing treatment and sanctions to reduce recidivism and…”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 600.010(2)(g) — 8 cases
N.C. v. Commonwealth, 396 S.W.3d 852 (Ky. 2013).
“Ignoring a fact so important as a credible, but ill-advised and uninformed admission in a juvenile action also impedes that directive of KRS 600.010(2)(d) that mandates, “[a]ny child brought before the court under KRS Chapters 600 to 645 shall have a right to treatment…”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 600.010(d) — 1 case
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