Larned Juvenile Correctional Facility

The Larned Juvenile Correctional Facility has gone through several changes since it's 1971 inception as Larned State Hospital's 30-bed Adolescent Rehabilitation Unit. It separated from LSH in 1982, coming under the direction of the Social and Rehabilitation Service's Youth and Adult Services section, and with the creation of the Kansas Juvenile Justice Authority in 1997, became one of four juvenile correctional facilities operated under the current system.

The Juvenile Justice Reform Act, passed by the Kansas Legislature in 1996, mandates that only the most violent, serious, and chronic offenders will be referred to juvenile correctional facilities. Additionally, it called for specialized services based upon offender needs. With existing LJCF programs centered around substance abuse, as well as the resources and support services of Larned State Hospital, it was determined that Larned would be the logical choice for a new 152-bed substance abuse and mental health facility.

Unlike the four separate buildings utilized most recently, the new 132,000 sq. ft. facility with its perimeter fence is considered medium security. Juvenile offenders eat, attend classes, receive programming, and live within the confines of one building. In the new facility, each offender is assigned a separate room, complete with restroom facilities. The facility includes four substance abuse pods of 30 beds each, and two mental health pods of 16 beds each.

The specialized substance abuse and mental health programs use the EQUIP Model, which teaches the juvenile offenders pro-social behaviors, how to manage and control anger, and how to identify and correct thinking errors. EQUIP also provides mutual help groups and specialized classes, such as orientation, activity therapy, parenting, independent living skills, returnee, and release preparation, as well as chaplain services and work study programs. Additionally, there are groups for violent offenders and sex offenders. Offenders attend high school classes at Westside High School, UDS #495, within the facility.

Administrative Staff

• Katrina Pollet, Superintendent
• Kyle Rohr, Deputy Superintendent
• Brian Bontrager, Juvenile Corrections Director
• Anita Ellison, Program Director
• Robert Manry, Business Manager
• Shelia Edwards, Human Resources
• Gayla Burger, Administrative Officer
• Jim Simpson, Principal, West Side High School