RELATING TO THE DETENTION OF MINORS.
What changed between versions
Minors cannot be held in adult jails or lockups for more than six hours for processing or release, or up to 48 hours for court appearances, unless specific rural or safety conditions apply.
Minors held in adult facilities must be completely separated from adult inmates with no sight or sound contact.
Room confinement for minors is now strictly limited to three hours maximum, requires mental health professional approval for health-related cases, and must be used only as a last resort for safety, not punishment.
Facilities must maintain detailed quarterly reports on room confinement incidents, including demographics and reasons for use.
Courts must review detention decisions at least every 30 days (45 days in rural areas) and minors cannot be held in adult facilities for more than 180 days without special justification.
Judges, court administrators, and social services managers must be notified within one business day when a minor is placed in room confinement.
The Department of Human Services must certify police stations and correctional centers that properly separate minors from adults before they can temporarily hold juveniles.
New definitions clarify that 'room confinement' means minimal contact with others and excludes brief locked room time for institutional operations or sleep hours.
The bill clarifies that bail provisions do not apply to minors detained under this chapter, except after transfer for criminal prosecution.
