​The Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice is one of five departments under the Kentucky Justice and Public Safety Cabinet. While holding youth accountable for their actions, the department is a multi-faceted agency that serves the commonwealth's youth as the juvenile corrections system for the state. The department is responsible for prevention programs for at-risk youth, court intake, pre-trial detention, residential placement and treatment services, probation, community aftercare, and reintegration programs, as well as the confinement ​of youth awaiting adult placement or court hearings.

As of late 2022, the department operates eight juvenile detention centers across the commonwealth, and a statewide alternative to secure detention programs that offers a spectrum of detention alternatives for lower level offenders. Three of these juvenile detention centers house male juveniles aged 14 or older who have been charged with a violent or serious offense (Capital, Class A, B or C felony). Four juvenile detention centers house male juveniles younger than 14 or who have been charged with a lower-level offense (Class D felony or lesser offense). The remaining juvenile detention center is a female-only detention center. 
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Apart from juvenile detention centers, the department also operates six youth development centers, seven ​group homes and five day treatment programs. These centers and programs allow the department to create a nationally recognized continuum of care for rehabilitating delinquent youth. While many state's out-of-home placement options are limited to small numbers of large institutions, Kentucky is able to serve youth in a variety of small programs designed to meet specific treatment needs.​​​​​​