Criminal Justice (Probation & Parole) in Kansas

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 460: Authorizing municpal court services agencies to issue identification certificates to individuals under probation supervision.

This bill amends Kansas law to allow municipal court services agencies to issue identification certificates to individuals under their probation supervision. These certificates can now be used as valid proof of identity when replacing a lost or damaged driver's license. Previously, only certificates from the Department of Corrections were accepted for this purpose. The change directly affects people on probation in Kansas who need to renew or replace their driver's licenses.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Probation & Parole

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2612: Modifying criminal sentencing rules applicable in multiple conviction cases where consecutive sentences may be imposed by the sentencing judge and the sentence for the primary crime is a nonprison sentence.

HB 2612 modifies Kansas sentencing rules for defendants convicted of multiple crimes requiring consecutive sentences. It requires that supervision terms (like probation or parole) be based solely on the longest supervision period imposed for any single crime, rather than combining all terms. The bill also specifies that if the primary crime (determined by severity ranking) receives a nonprison sentence, all other sentences must be nonprison, with supervision based on the longest single term. This directly affects defendants facing multiple convictions in Kansas, particularly those with mixed sentencing scenarios (e.g., drug vs. non-drug offenses).

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Judges Probation & Parole Sentencing

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2611: Providing limitations and restrictions on releasing a person charged with a crime upon the person's own recognizance.

HB 2611 amends Kansas law to add stricter conditions for releasing people charged with crimes before trial, directly affecting individuals facing criminal charges in Kansas courts. The bill requires magistrates to impose a mandatory 72-hour no-contact rule with alleged victims for felony or misdemeanor cases, and limits "release on own recognizance" (without bail) to defendants with no prior felonies, no history of missing court appearances, and no pending probation violations. It also restricts cash bond options, allowing only 10% of the bond amount for certain low-level misdemeanor or drug cases meeting specific criteria, and prohibits administrative fees for pretrial supervision. These changes aim to balance public safety with pretrial release while clarifying magistrate discretion.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Courts Judges Probation & Parole

failed · Kansas · House Mar 26, 2026

HB 2527: Prohibiting certain sex offenders from entering onto school property or attending school activities, prohibiting courts from assigning a defendant to work release if the defendant is required to register as a sex offender for certain crimes and prohibiting the secretary of corrections from granting an inmate leave from confinement except for specified purposes if theinmate is required to register as a sex offender for certain crimes or is serving a sentence for certain crimes that require registration as a sex offender.

HB 2527 prohibits courts from assigning defendants to work release programs if they have any prior conviction or court finding for a crime requiring sex offender registration under Kansas law. It also bans the secretary of corrections from granting inmates with such prior convictions leave for work release or educational release programs. This law directly affects individuals with prior sex offense convictions that mandate registration under Kansas' sex offender registry system. The bill amends Kansas statutes 21-6604 and 75-5267 to enforce these restrictions.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice ✗ Education

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts Probation & Parole

signed · Kansas · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 2444: Providing that jail credit when consecutive sentences are imposed shall not apply to more than one case, creating special sentencing rules when a felony is committed by certain offenders while on probation, parole or postrelease supervision for a prior felony and requiring secured minimum bonds for certain defendants who commit a new felony while on probation, parole, postrelease supervision or bond for a prior felony unless the court makes certain findings.

HB 2444 changes Kansas sentencing rules by limiting jail credit for consecutive sentences to apply to only one case, preventing double-counting of pretrial jail time across multiple sentences. For individuals on probation, parole, or postrelease supervision who commit a new felony, the bill requires courts to impose a prison sentence as the default (unless specific findings justify otherwise) and prohibits certain sentencing departures. It also mandates that such defendants must post a secured bond (requiring collateral) for release, unless the court waives this requirement. These provisions apply specifically to new felony offenses committed during supervision for a prior felony.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Corrections Probation & Parole Sentencing

signed · Kansas · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 2192: Limiting or prohibiting work release for people convicted of a second or third offense of domestic battery, requiring an offender convicted of a first offense to undergo a domestic violence offender assessment, excluding certain offenders convicted of a nonperson felony from participation in certified drug abuse treatment programs and authorizing community correctional services officers to complete criminal risk-need assessments for divertees who are committed to such programs.

HB 2192 restricts work release for individuals convicted of a second or third offense of domestic battery in Kansas. For a second offense within five years, work release is only permitted after serving 45 consecutive days (previously 48 hours), and probation/suspension requires at least 45 days served. For a third or subsequent offense, the bill prohibits work release entirely until the offender serves 90 consecutive days of imprisonment. This amendment to Kansas law (K.S.A. 21-5414) directly affects repeat domestic battery offenders by extending mandatory prison time before eligibility for work release or other supervised release options.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Probation & Parole

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2325: Authorizing judges to commit juvenile offenders to detention for technical violations of probation, increasing the cumulative detention limit for juvenile offenders and increasing criminal penalties for juvenile offenders who use a firearm in the commission of an offense or who are repeat offenders.

HB 2325 allows judges in Kansas to commit juvenile offenders to detention for technical violations of probation (such as missing appointments), which were previously excluded from detention. It increases the maximum total time a juvenile can be held in detention (cumulative detention limit) and raises criminal penalties for juveniles who use a firearm during an offense or have prior offenses. The bill amends specific sections of Kansas's juvenile justice code to implement these changes, directly affecting juvenile offenders in the state who face probation violations or firearm-related crimes. These provisions adjust sentencing and supervision practices under the revised juvenile justice framework.

Topics ✗ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Firearms Juvenile Justice Probation & Parole

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 245: Providing that no person shall be sentenced to death for crimes committed after July 1, 2025, and creating the crime of aggravated murder.

SB 245 prohibits the death penalty for crimes committed after July 1, 2025, replacing it with a mandatory life sentence without parole for a new crime called "aggravated murder." This applies specifically to severe offenses like killings during kidnappings for ransom, contract killings, murders of law enforcement officers, or killings of children under 14 during sex-related kidnappings. Individuals convicted of aggravated murder after the effective date will serve life in prison with no possibility of release, parole, or commutation. The bill repeals existing death penalty provisions and amends related statutes to implement these changes.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2272: Providing that no person shall be sentenced to death for crimes committed after July 1, 2025, and creating the crime of aggravated murder.

HB 2272 prohibits death sentences for crimes committed in Kansas after July 1, 2025, replacing the death penalty with life imprisonment without parole for future cases. It creates a new crime called "aggravated murder," defined as intentional killings during specific severe circumstances like kidnapping for ransom, contract killings, prison violence, sex offenses, or killing multiple victims. Anyone convicted of aggravated murder under this bill will receive a mandatory life sentence without parole. The law affects all future murder defendants in Kansas who would have been eligible for the death penalty under prior law.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 91: Providing for payment of interest in civil actions for wrongful conviction and directing the attorney general to seek damages for the state from any person who knowingly contributed to the wrongful conviction and prosecute ouster and criminal proceedings as warranted.

SB 91 establishes a legal process for individuals wrongfully convicted and imprisoned to sue the state for compensation. It requires claimants to prove their innocence through a reversed conviction or dismissal, entitling them to $65,000 per year of imprisonment (plus $25,000 for parole/post-release time), interest on damages, and attorney fees, with payments structured as lump sums or annuities. The bill also directs Kansas’ Attorney General to seek reimbursement from individuals who knowingly contributed to the wrongful conviction, including pursuing criminal charges where warranted.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

All criminal justice bills