Raymond F. Debolt brings over four decades of experience in public service to his role as Commissioner for the Department of Juvenile Justice, and he has played an integral role in the reforms and policy initiatives that have gone on in the Commonwealth. Today, Commissioner Debolt leads a workforce of more than 1,000 state juvenile correctional employees working in 28 facilities and 20 community service offices, all of whom are fully engaged in the restorative justice of more than 1,000 Kentucky youth.
Prior to his appointment, Commissioner Debolt served as the Special Assistant to the previous Department of Juvenile Justice Commissioner. Additionally, he served eight years with the Kentucky Legislative Research Commission as a Senior Staff Analyst for the House and Senate Judiciary Committees. His duties involved research policy, advising legislators, drafting legislation, and working with public agencies. The Commissioner also previously served as the General Counsel for the Department of Juvenile Justice from 1997-2006, held various positions with the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Fayette County Attorney. He began his career in criminal justice as a police officer with the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Division of Police.
Debolt holds a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Indiana University and a Master's degree in Public Affairs from Kentucky State University. He also obtained his Juris Doctorate from Salmon P. Chase College of Law.