Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice Master Plan
A statewide plan for safer, more supportive youth facilities
In response to Senate Bill 162, which mandated a separation between violent and non-violent offenders for male and female juvenile justice populations, the Commonwealth of Kentucky partnered with Treanor to evaluate its juvenile detention system and chart a path forward. The result is a comprehensive master plan to improve safety, support trauma-informed care, and guide capital investment over the next three budget cycles.
At the core of the plan is a return to a regional model that provides appropriate separation between youth populations based on offense type (violent vs. non-violent) and gender. This approach supports a continuum of care while helping staff and youth thrive in more appropriately scaled and rehabilitative environments.
Defining basic needs for the master plan
Treanor’s team assessed eight juvenile detention facilities across the state to determine their capacity to support required separations and meet modern standards for safety and wellness. A key element of this assessment was analyzing average and peak population data to calculate housing needs across four categories:
- Violent males
- Non-violent males
- Violent females
- Non-violent females
This review helped identify both current gaps and future needs, setting the stage for smart renovations and potential new construction.
A methodical and holistic planning process
To conduct a thorough and efficient analysis, Treanor developed a custom facility evaluation criteria form for use by all project consultants. Each facility was evaluated on:
- Site and campus planning
- Building envelope and systems
- Security electronics and physical safety
- Operational functionality
Conditions were ranked and scored to identify deficiencies and opportunities. These findings informed a prioritized list of phased recommendations, each with cost estimates to support funding requests.
Recommendations were grouped into four categories:
Safety and security
- Physical hardening
- Electronic security
- Improved sightlines
- Perimeter control
Resource efficiency
- Deferred maintenance
- Building envelope repairs
- Technology upgrades
- Address parking and site needs
Health and wellness
- Staff support and respite areas
- Thermal comfort controls
- Lighting and daylighting
- Trauma-informed design strategies
Regional model capacity
- Additional housing units
- A sub-dayroom for additional separations
- Improvements to existing dayrooms
- Additional program, counseling, and mental health support
Key recommendations and future-forward vision
The master plan outlines a phased strategy that balances new construction with smart, targeted renovations. Key components of the preferred approach include:
- A new high-acuity mental health treatment facility designed specifically for youth with serious mental illness or extreme behavioral needs.
- Two new, purpose-built female detention facilities—one in the eastern region and one in the west—to ensure safety, privacy, and gender-responsive services.
- Upgrades to existing facilities that improve living environments, address deferred maintenance, and support trauma-informed care.
This approach allows Kentucky to gradually reduce strain on its current infrastructure while building toward a more effective and compassionate juvenile justice system. Grounded in data and driven by values, it supports long-term transformation by emphasizing safety, dignity, and healing.
With the right spaces in place, Kentucky can better support its youth, reduce recidivism, and build a more equitable system for generations to come. Upon completing the Master Plan, Treanor prepared a concept report for the high-acuity mental health treatment facility and female facility prototype. The first phase, to retrofit three existing facilities identified in the master plan, is underway. These projects, executing the recommendations from the master plan, reveal the success of the analysis and DJJ’s commitment.
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