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Juvenile Justice Reform in Kansas
SESSION INFO
Tuesday, January 28, 2025
4:15 PM - 5:15 PM
Session Type: Workshop
In 2015, the State of Kansas passed legislation for juvenile justice reform to address the inconsistences that existed among the juvenile offender population. Prior to juvenile justice reform, youth in Kansas were sentenced to longer probation terms, had higher rates of lower level offenders incarcerated at the Juvenile Correctional Facility and longer terms of out of home placements. This reform shifted the focus of rehabilitation of juvenile offenders to take place within their community with the use of evidence-based programming and interventions rather than in secure environmental settings or out of placements. With the implementation of Senate Bill 367, this workshop examines how the State of Kansas nearly eliminated the use of out of home placement, restructured the sentencing grid to reduce the number of youth sentenced to incarceration, and enforced sentencing guidelines to reduce probation term limits.
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SESSION PRESENTERS
Erin Hicks
Division Manager of Juvenile Services, Shawnee County Community Corrections
Erin Hicks is a native of Topeka, Kansas and has been employed with Shawnee County Department of Corrections for the last 17 years. She has a considerable amount of experience in the Corrections field as a Corrections Specialist, a Juvenile Intensive Supervision Probation Officer, and she currently serves as the Division Manager of Juvenile Services for Shawnee County Community Corrections. Erin earned a Master of Public Administration from the University of Kansas with two graduate certificates in Public and Nonprofit Management and City and County Management. Erin received a Bachelor’s of Science in Criminal Justice from Langston University, a Historically Black College/University in Oklahoma and she is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
Steven L Willis
Director, Shawnee County Community Corrections
Steve Willis serves as the Director of Community Corrections in Shawnee County with over two decades of experience in the field, where he has played a large role in creating transformative initiatives and fostering evidence-based practices. Throughout his career, Steve has been instrumental in implementing innovative programs aimed at improving offender rehabilitation and reducing recidivism rates. His expertise in grant writing and data analysis has been crucial in securing essential funding to support these initiatives and conduct research on offender reentry dynamics. Steve has led efforts to streamline agency policies and procedures, develop strategic planning models, and enhance agency fidelity and quality assurance. His collaborative approach has facilitated partnerships with advisory boards across Kansas, leading to the successful implementation of best practices in offender supervision and support services. Steve's dedication to excellence and commitment to evidence-based practices have left a lasting impact on the Kansas Department of Corrections and community agencies, driving positive outcomes for offenders and strengthening the fabric of communities statewide.
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