If your child is suspected of taking part in a criminal act and law enforcement is going to take action, several things that can happen. The two most common are receiving a citation and being released to a parent/guardian or being booked into the Juvenile hall.
Booking: Admission Process
During the admission process, the minor is entitled to two (2) phone calls: one to a parent or legal guardian and one to an attorney. If they come into the Juvenile hall before 8 a.m. or after 5 p.m. an attorney may not be available. They may also call an employer.
- Law enforcement will take the minor into the Pre-Booking area where they will complete their paperwork and the minor will receive a medical screening.
- The minor will then enter the institution where probation staff will conduct a pat down search.
- If there is reasonable suspicion that the minor has contraband, drugs or a weapon they may be subject to a strip search.
- Personal items will be removed and placed in a property bag and the minor will then sign a property sheet.
- Probation staff will fingerprint the minor and take a picture.
- The minor will then wait in a holding room while an Intake Officer determines if the minor can be released to a parent or be detained at Juvenile hall.
Booking: Non-detention vs. Detention
As part of the admission process a Probation Intake Officer, using a validated detention risk assessment tool, will assess if it is safe for the community, and the child, to release a minor to a parent’s custody; or to detain the minor at Juvenile Hall.
Non-detention
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Detention
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Probation has several options for releasing a child to a parent’s custody. Many have supervision requirements and in all situations, the minor will be required to appear before the Juvenile Court.
- Minor is released to a parent, no restrictions
- Minor is released to a parent and required to be on Home Supervision
- Minor is released to a parent and required to be on Electronic Monitoring
Probation will send the case to the District Attorney who will decide if charges will be filed. You will receive notification either at release or in the mail of required court appearances.
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- If detained, the youth will be provided a shower and issued Juvenile hall clothing.
- They will be seen by a classification officer to determine security classification and housing location.
- The youth will be issued an identification wristband.
- They will then be assigned to a housing unit.
The law requires that charges be filed, usually within 48 hours from the time the child is taken into custody and detained.
The District Attorney will file charges and there will be a Detention Hearing, within one to two court days following the filing of charges.
The minor and their parent or legal guardian will be given the date and time of the Detention Hearing. At the detention hearing the minor will go before a judge who will decide if they are going to stay in the Juvenile hall until the next hearing, which is usually 5 days (holidays and weekends excluded) from your detention hearing.
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