Fort Hays State University is part of a project titled “Our Town, Our Kids,” aimed at helping prevent youth from entering the criminal justice system.
Rural counties in western Kansas are part of a study devoted to developing support systems for youth and families with the goal of providing services that maximize their chances of leading productive lives. The project was awarded funding by the Kansas Department of Corrections and the Kansas Advisory Group.
Dr. April Terry, associate professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at FHSU, said rural western Kansas is often overlooked. It is important to have a study in which 22 of the 23 counties are in rural areas of the state, Terry said. Ellis County is included.
“There is a big hole in rural criminology (research),” Terry said. “There is very little research in rural areas and juvenile(s). We hope that his project will result in a national initiative to look at other rural areas.”
(Read more: Hays Post)