United States of Disparities

Jurisdiction ages

• 0–17
• Extended Age of Delinquency Jurisdiction: 20

Age of Detention

0–17

Standard for detention

V.A.M.S. 211.061

3. When the juvenile court is informed that a child is in detention it shall examine the reasons therefor and shall immediately:

(1) Order the child released; or

(2) Order the child continued in detention until a detention hearing is held. An order to continue the child in detention shall only be entered upon the filing of a petition or motion to modify and a determination by the court that probable cause exists to believe that the child has committed acts specified in the petition or motion that bring the child within the jurisdiction of the court under subdivision (2) or (3) of subsection 1 of section 211.031.

V.A.M.S. 211.063

1. A child accused of violating the provisions of subdivision (2) of subsection 1 of section 211.031 shall not be held in a secure detention placement for a period greater than twenty-four hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays, unless the court finds pursuant to a probable cause hearing held within that twenty-four-hour period, that the child has violated the conditions of a valid court order and that:

(1) The child has a record of willful failure to appear at juvenile court proceedings; or

(2) The child has a record of violent conduct resulting in physical injury to self or others; or

(3) The child has a record of leaving a court-ordered placement, other than secure detention, without permission.

Detention hearing timeline

Chapter 211 Juvenile Courts Section 211.061

Within 3 days of detention, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays.

DMC coordinator

Carolyn Kampeter
MO Juvenile Justice Association
P.O. Box 1332
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Phone: 573-636-6101
Fax: 573-635-5159
carolyn@mjja.org

Website

JJS coordinator

Bruce Clemonds
Program Manager
Missouri Department of Public Safety
P.O. Box 749
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Phone: 573-522-6125
bruce.clemonds@dps.mo.gov

DMC subcommittee chair

There is currently no DMC subcommittee chair

DMC reform efforts

1. Teen Court of peers in school - As an alternative to a referral to the Juvenile Office, a parent is offered the option of sending their child to a trial by peers in school. School children have been selected and trained to be prosecuting and defense attorneys, and jury members. The offending child must agree to abide by the sentence handed down by the jury of his peers. Sentences often include community service, apology letters and possibly future jury duty. Referrals to the Juvenile Office in one Middle School have gone from 78 to 1 from the first semester of 2009 to the first semester of 2012 as a result of the implementation of Teen Court. Fighting is a typical minor offense that is eligible for Teen Court.
2. School Referral Memorandum of Understanding - A memorandum of understanding between a school district, local law enforcement and the county juvenile office is being implemented in some counties to eliminate minor offenses from being referred. The purpose is to handle minor offenses in school rather than creating a referral to the juvenile office. This is allowed by the Safe Schools Act for minor offenses, such as fighting, which are typically referred as Assault 3rd Degree. Research shows that contact with the juvenile office has negative consequences for youth.
3. Mentor Assignment in school for at-risk kids - Several counties have implemented mentoring programs in schools for at-risk kids. One county selected and trained African American males specifically, to meet with the youth. Another county implemented a school district-wide mentoring program, so that mentors could follow their child from kindergarten through high school.
4. De-escalation training for teachers - A school district held de-escalation training for Special Education teachers, who typically handle children with behavioral issues. Teachers who have a larger percentage of minority referrals were also required to attend the training, to enhance their skills in the classroom. The training

State Plan

There is no link available to the current State Plan

Focus Areas for 2012-2014 State Plan:

1. Alternatives to Detention - Focus on expanding JDAI statewide
2. Compliance Monitoring - Core Requirement - $70,000 for each year
3. Delinquency Prevention - Community must tie to JDAI or Gender Services
4. Disproportionate Minority Contact - Focus on expanding the development of Local DMC Groups to identify and assess the degree of DMC that exists; and on providing the statistical data necessary for local groups to make such assessments, develop strategies to address issue(s) identified, evaluate and monitor progress, and, ultimately, reduce and/or eliminate DMC.
5. Gender Specific Services - Focus on expanding services for girls in the JJ System
6. Planning and Administration - $48,703 for FFY 2012
7. State Advisory Group Allocation - $20,000 for FFY 2012

Organizational structure

One-fifth of members must be youth that are under age 24 at the time of appointment. Three members must have been or are currently under the jurisdiction of the juvenile justice system; a majority are not to be full-time employees of the federal, state, or local government. Members are to have training, experience, or special knowledge concerning the prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency or the administration of juvenile justice.

Committees

• DMC
• JDAI
• Grant review committees as needed

Membership

1. William Heberle, Over age 24 at time of appointment 1, Jefferson City
2. Suzanne Kissock, Over age 24 at time of appointment 2, St. Joseph
3. The Honorable Harold Lowenstein, Over age 24 at time of appointment 3, Kansas City
4. David E. Nelson (R), Over age 24 at time of appointment 4, Cameron
5. Robin R. Shaw (D), Over age 24 at time of appointment 5, Florissant
6. The Honorable John Parrish, Over age 24 at time of appointment 7, Springfield
7. Mr. James Braun, Over age 24 at time of appointment 8, Ballwin
8. Dr. Margaret Harlan, Over age 24 at time of appointment 9, Sedalia
9. Colly Durley, Over age 24 at time of appointment 10, Columbia
10. Keith Wood, Over age 24 at time of appointment 11, Maryville
11. Connie J. Douglas (D), Over age 24 at time of appointment 12, Rocheport
12. Edwin Morris (D), Over age 24 at time of appointment 13, Clark
13. Pili Robinson, Over age 24 at time of appointment 14, Florissant
14. Rev. Larry G. Maddox (D), Over age 24 at time of appointment 15, Springfield
15. Donald Lee, Over age 24 at time of appointment 16, Kansas City
16. The Honorable Rita Days, Local Government Official 1, Jefferson City
17. Lindsay Ponce, Under age 24 at time of appointment 1, Kirksville
18. Erin Lear, Under age 24 at time of appointment 2, Kearney
19. Gabrielle Stocke, Under age 24 at time of appointment 3, Saint Louis
20. Tyler Page (D), Under age 24 at time of appointment 4, Independence
21. Vacant Slot, Under age 24 at time of appointment 5
22. Vacant Slot, Over age 24 at time of appointment 6