What are the Consequences of Being Adjudicated Delinquent in Kansas?

For juveniles, being found guilty of a crime does not result in a conviction, but rather an “adjudication of delinquency.” Minors sentenced in juvenile court are not at risk for jail time; however, being adjudicated delinquent can still have many significant repercussions. Here, Olathe juvenile attorney Jerry Merrill explains the possible consequences of being adjudicated delinquent in Kansas.

7 Potential Outcomes of an Adjudication of Delinquency in Kansas

Similar to adult criminal cases, in juvenile cases, sentencing is based on the severity of the offense (or offenses) committed and any aggravating or mitigating factors involved. With this in mind, potential sentences for juveniles who are adjudicated delinquent in Kansas include:

1. Probation

Lower-level juvenile offenses can result in a sentence of probation. If you are placed on probation, you will be allowed to live at home, but you will be required to meet certain requirements like adhering to a curfew, taking (and passing) drug tests, getting good grades in school, and attending counseling. In some cases, juveniles sentenced to probation will also be placed on house arrest with an ankle monitor.

2. Intensive Supervised Probation

As its name suggests, intensive supervised probation (ISP) is a form of probation that is subject to enhanced restrictions. If you are placed on ISP, you will be required to report to your probation officer regularly, your probation officer will be closely monitoring your compliance, and the conditions of your probation will be even more strict than those of “normal” probation.

3. Juvenile Justice Authority Custody

In certain circumstances, juveniles who have been adjudicated delinquent can be placed in juvenile justice authority (JJA) custody. This involves placement in a group home or foster home where you will be required to adhere to terms similar to probation.

4. Direct Commitment to a Juvenile Correctional Facility

For more-serious offenses, juveniles can be sent to a Kansas juvenile correctional facility. This is referred to as “direct commitment,” and it is akin to being sent to jail as an adult (although Kansas’s juvenile correctional facilities are completely separate from adult jails). Juveniles can be sentenced to direct commitment until they reach 22.5 years of age.

5. Sanction Commitment to a Juvenile Correctional Facility

In some cases, judges will order juveniles to serve a “sanction” period at a juvenile correctional facility prior to beginning probation or ISP. This period is much shorter than a direct commitment and is typically measured in days rather than months or years.

6. Restitution and Fees

If the crime you committed resulted in harm to someone else, you may be required to pay restitution. Judges can order juveniles to pay court costs, drug testing costs and other costs as well.

7. Collateral Consequences for School, Housing and Work

Finally, in addition to your juvenile sentence, being adjudicated delinquent can impact your life in various other ways as well. For example, unless and until you have your juvenile record expunged, your record could prevent you from getting into school, finding housing or finding a job.

Discuss Your Case with Olathe Juvenile Attorney Jerry Merrill

If you or your child has been charged with a juvenile offense in Kansas, it is important that you hire an experienced defense lawyer to fight for a positive result. To schedule a free initial consultation with Olathe juvenile attorney Jerry Merrill, call 913-381-2085 or request an appointment online now.