Republican Rep. Wendell Willard said more funding will likely be needed to support alternative treatment programs that are part of an overhaul of the state’s juvenile justice code. He said state officials will conduct a study to determine how much more money is necessary. (Photo Courtesy of s_falkow via Flickr.)
Republican Rep. Wendell Willard of Sandy Springs said Wednesday the goal was to move Georgia's code into conformity with federal standards and focus on treatment juvenile offenders in their communities, not incarcerating them. The bill passed 172-0. It now heads to the state Senate.
Willard said the legislation will require that juvenile courts do a mandatory assessment of the mental health and other needs of children before committing them to state custody. Those assessments are not currently required.
Willard said more funding will likely be needed to support alternative treatment programs. He said state officials will conduct a study to determine how much more money is necessary.
