Cheyenne -- A bill that would create a uniform system for screening Wyoming's young offenders cleared a key hurdle today when it was endorsed by a legislative committee.

The legislation would require police officers to perform risk assessments on children when taking them into custody. Police and local prosecutors would use the results to help them determine whether juveniles should be jailed, taken to a group home or released to parents.

Based on feedback from a statewide law enforcement group, members of the Joint Judiciary Interim Committee removed language from the bill that would have required officers to follow the assessment's findings. As the bill is now written, law enforcement officers would make the final determination.

Advocates of the risk assessment program say it will help ensure the state only locks up young offenders who truly need to be jailed. Critics say it micromanages the work of local law enforcement.

Read Thursday's Star-Tribune for more on this story.