The Court of Justice supports a variety of specialty courts and programs to give citizens a better understanding of the law and how to navigate Kentucky courts. These programs are described below:
Citizen Foster Care Review Board
Nearly 775 volunteers across the state serve as members of the Kentucky Citizen Foster Care Review Board. The Kentucky General Assembly created the CFCRB in 1982 as a way to decrease the time young people spend in foster care. The volunteer reviewers help ensure that children receive the necessary services while in alternative placement and make every effort to locate permanent homes for these children. The Dependent Children’s Services Division of the Administrative Office of the Courts oversees the CFCRB program.
Court Designated Worker Program
The Kentucky General Assembly created the Court Designated Worker Program in 1986. Court designated workers help juveniles under age 18 who are charged with offenses to enter a diversion program, which lets them carry out restitution without court action and without creating a formal court record, or make their way through the court system, depending upon the courts’ ruling. CDWs are employed by the Administrative Office of the Courts and provide services to all 120 counties.
Court Interpreting Services
The Court of Justice believes that all citizens deserve fair and just treatment under the law. The Administrative Office of the Courts provides uniform and consistent interpreting services for individuals who have a limited ability to understand English, are deaf or hard of hearing, or are unable to speak. The court interpreter's role is to completely and accurately interpret or translate what is stated or written and not to provide legal advice or become an advocate for the court or any party.
Diversion Program
The Department of Pretrial Services operates the Misdemeanor Diversion Program. By resolving minor offenses outside of court, the court system can reduce the number of cases on its dockets and reserve its resources for more serious cases. The Diversion Program attempts to meet the individual needs of the offender while maintaining the confidence of the victim and the court.
Divorce Education
Divorce often creates or complicates problems for parents and children. Concerned parents are faced with the difficulties of a major transition while also helping their children adjust to changes. The Kentucky Court of Justice has joined other states in offering divorce education programs that help parents and their children maintain a healthy, workable relationship throughout this painful process. The divorce education programs vary in length and cost and include Cooperative Parenting and Divorce, Divorce Care, Divorced and Divorcing Parents, Families in Transition, Kids First: Children Coping with Divorce and Family Conflict, Kid's Time, Parents Achieving With Collaborative Teams, Parents Are For Good, Parents' Education Clinic, Turning It Around and Tween Time.
Drug Court
Drug Court coordinates the efforts of the judiciary, prosecution, defense bar, probation, law enforcement, mental health, social services and treatment communities to intervene and break the cycle of substance abuse, addiction and crime. Today there is irrefutable evidence that Drug Court is achieving what it set out to do — substantially reduce drug use and criminal behavior in drug-addicted offenders. Drug Court operates 53 programs in 77 Kentucky counties and has graduated more than 1,300 participants since the program began in 1996. The program is giving individuals the opportunity to lead productive, drug-free lives.
Guardian ad Litem Program
Since 1999, the Administrative Office of the Courts has been responsible for preparing attorneys to provide legal representation to abused and neglected children across the Commonwealth. The goal of the program is to produce highly qualified guardians ad litem by coordinating training sessions, providing educational materials and serving as an overall resource. The current training curriculum gives attorneys an overview of Kentucky statutory and case law as well as the federal law that requires reasonable efforts to keep families together and provide children with safe and permanent homes.
Law Related Education
Law-related education gives individuals of all ages an understanding of our complex legal system and the ability to contribute to society as thoughtful, well-informed citizens. The Administrative Office of the Courts formed the Division of Law Related Education in 1990 to demystify the law and legal proceedings. The division provides training programs to juvenile justice practitioners, law enforcement officials, educators, court personnel and attorneys statewide. Participants benefit from course materials on the court system, presentations by judicial system experts, field experiences such as courtroom tours and mock trials, and opportunities to take part in civic and community projects.
Mediation Program
The Court of Justice continually looks for ways to provide wider and more efficient access to justice. Crowded dockets create delays and additional costs for our traditional litigation system. In 2002, the Administrative Office of the Courts created a program that would formalize the use of mediation to resolve disputes outside of the courtroom. The Mediation Program provides individuals with timely and cost-effective ways to settle their legal disputes through a trained mediator instead of a judge.
Monitored Conditional Release Program
Many defendants remain in Kentucky jails awaiting trial because of the serious nature of the charge or other extenuating circumstances. In fiscal year 2004, more than 211,000 people were arrested and detained in local jails after their arrest. While it varies by district, approximately one-third of those people were not released from jail prior to the disposition of their cases. This leaves county governments to bear the cost of incarceration. The Department of Pretrial Services has found a viable solution with the Pretrial Services Monitored Conditional Release Program. The program’s goals are to advocate the safe release of defendants into the community to ensure court appearances and to reduce the risk of defendants committing additional crimes while their cases are pending.
Pretrial Services
Pretrial release plays a key role in the administration of justice in Kentucky. Kentucky created pretrial services in 1976 to replace for-profit commercial bail bonding services and is one of only a few states that have outlawed commercial bail bonding. While the national pretrial population in jails is about 70 percent, it is only 40 percent in Kentucky. In 2005, more than 42,000 defendants were released from county jails throughout Kentucky on some type of non-financial condition. Of that total, only 8 percent failed to appear in court.
Teen Court
Teen Court provides first-time juvenile offenders with the opportunity to participate in a less formal court process carried out by their peers. Teen Court began in 1992 as one of many law-related programs offered through the Department of Juvenile Services. Today, the Teen Court concept has been embraced throughout the state and operates in 32 Kentucky counties. More than 15,000 students have participated in the program since its inception. The program succeeds as a positive alternative to Juvenile Court by bringing together high school students and volunteer teacher-coaches and attorney-coaches.
Truancy Diversion Program
The growing truancy epidemic presents unique challenges to families, schools and communities. In an effort to combat the negative effects of truancy on Kentucky’s young people, the Department of Juvenile Services is pleased to offer the new Truancy Diversion Program to help communities address this pervasive problem. Truancy is defined as when a student has been absent or tardy three or more times without a valid excuse. The Truancy Diversion Program is designed to meet the needs of truant students by using education, prevention, accountability and treatment, if applicable, to address the issues surrounding truancy.