MAJDC supports SB 1297 Juvenile dispositions; juvenile who has previously been adjudicated delinquent of violent felony.

The Mid-Atlantic Juvenile Defender Center supports SB 1297.

 

Allows juveniles who have previously been adjudicated delinquent of a violent juvenile felony to be confined in a detention home or other secure juvenile facility. Currently, juveniles who have such a previous adjudication are not eligible for a detention home.

 

The bill also requires the court to consider the assessment completed by the secure facility regarding the appropriateness of the placement when ordering a period of confinement that exceeds 30 days. As such, any truly dangerous juveniles would not be placed in such a facility.

 

This bill allows for judicial discretion in placing juveniles in juvenile facilities even if the juvenile has been previously convicted of a juvenile crime. Juveniles would no longer be automatically ineligible for placement in a juvenile facility on the sole basis of having been previously adjudicated.  .