The Juvenile Justice Oversight Council (JJOC) was established as part of SB 200 and codified as KRS 15A.063. The purpose of the JJOC is to provide independent review of the state juvenile justice system and provide recommendations to the General Assembly. The JJOC engages in the implementation of the juvenile justice reforms in SB 200, collects and reviews performance measurement data, and continues to review the juvenile justice system for changes that improve public safety, hold youth accountable, provide better outcomes for children and families, and control juvenile justice costs. Specific issues the JJOC is tasked with examining are status offender reform, minimum age of criminal responsibility, competency, whether juvenile courts should be open to the public, and population levels within the Department of Juvenile Justice.
Membership to the JJOC includes the following:
- The secretary of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet
- The commissioner of the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities
- The commissioner of the Department for Community Based Services
- The commissioner of the Department of Juvenile Justice
- The commissioner of the Department of Education
- The director of the Administrative Office of the Courts
- The Public Advocate
- The Senate chair of the Committee on Judiciary
- The House char of the Committee on Judiciary
- Five (5) at-large members appointed by the Governors, as follows:
- One (1) member representing public schools or an education group or organization;
- One (1) district Judge nominated by the Chief Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court;
- One (1) member representing law enforcement;
- One (1) member of the County Attorney's Association nominated by the Attorney General; and
- One (1) member representing community-based organizations, whether for-profit or nonprofit, with experience in programs for juveniles, including substance abuse prevention and treatment, case management, mental health, or counseling.