Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2024
A BILL
To reauthorize titles II and V of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Amendments
“(3) provide satisfactory evidence that the State agency has established and maintained, or is working toward establishing and maintaining, an advisory group that—”
“(X) programs to address racial and ethnic disparities;
“(Y) programs and projects to collect data on the socioeconomic status of youth in the juvenile justice system;
“(Z) programs intended to help divert youth from the justice system before or after arrest; and
“(AA) programs in support of the initiatives described in paragraphs (11) through (13) and (16);”
“(B) require that, if a juvenile is taken into custody for violating a valid court order issued for committing a status offense—
“(i) an appropriate public agency shall be promptly notified that the juvenile is held in custody for violating the court order;
“(ii) not later than 24 hours after the juvenile begins to be held, an authorized representative of the agency shall interview, in person, the juvenile;
“(iii) not later than 48 hours after the juvenile begins to be held—
“(I) the representative described in clause (ii) shall submit an assessment to the court that issued the court order relating to the immediate needs of the juvenile;
“(II) the court that issued the court order shall conduct a hearing to determine—
“(aa) whether there is reasonable cause to believe that the juvenile violated the court order; and
“(bb) the appropriate placement of the juvenile pending disposition of the alleged violation; and
“(III) if the court that issued the court order determines the juvenile should be placed in a secure detention facility or correctional facility for violating the court order—
“(aa) the court shall issue a written order that—
“(AA) identifies the valid court order that has been violated;
“(BB) specifies the factual basis for determining that there is reasonable cause to believe that the juvenile has violated the court order;
“(CC) includes findings of fact to support a determination that there is no appropriate less restrictive alternative available to placing the juvenile in the secure detention facility, with due consideration to the best interest of the juvenile;
“(DD) specifies the length of time, not to exceed 7 days, that the juvenile may remain in a secure detention facility or correctional facility, and includes a plan for the release of the juvenile from the facility; and
“(EE) may not be renewed or extended; and
“(bb) the court may not issue a second or subsequent order described in item (aa) relating to a juvenile unless the juvenile violates a valid court order after the date on which the court issues an order described in item (aa); and
“(iv) there are procedures in place to ensure that the juvenile held in a secure detention facility or correctional facility pursuant to a court order described in this paragraph does not remain in custody longer than the shorter of 7 days and the length of time authorized by the court; and
“(C) require that not later than September 30, 2028, the State will eliminate the use of valid court orders to provide secure confinement of juveniles who commit status offenses, except that juveniles may be held in secure confinement in accordance with the Interstate Compact for Juveniles if the judge issues a written order that—
“(i) specifies the authority of the State to detain the juvenile under the terms of the Interstate Compact for Juveniles;
“(ii) includes findings of fact to support a determination that there is no appropriate less restrictive alternative available to placing the juvenile in such a facility, with due consideration to the best interest of the juvenile;
“(iii) specifies the length of time a juvenile may remain in secure confinement, not to exceed 15 days, and includes a plan for the return of the juvenile to the home State of the juvenile; and
“(iv) may not be renewed or extended;”
“(C) juveniles awaiting trial or other legal process who are treated as adults for purposes of prosecution in criminal court and housed in a secure facility, unless a court finds, after a hearing and in writing and in accordance with paragraph (14), that it is in the interest of justice;”
“(14) provide that—
“(A) a juvenile described in paragraph (13)(C)—
“(i) that is confined in any jail or lockup for adults shall not have sight or sound contact with adult inmates; and
“(ii) except as provided in this paragraph, may not be held in any jail or lockup for adults;
“(B) in determining under paragraph (13)(C) whether it is in the interest of justice to permit a juvenile to be held in any jail or lockup for adults, or have sight or sound contact with adult inmates, a court shall consider—
“(i) the age of the juvenile;
“(ii) the physical and mental maturity of the juvenile;
“(iii) the present mental state of the juvenile, including whether the juvenile presents an imminent risk of harm to the juvenile;
“(iv) the nature and circumstances of the alleged offense;
“(v) the juvenile’s history of prior delinquent acts;
“(vi) the relative ability of the available adult and juvenile detention facilities to meet the specific needs of the juvenile and protect the safety of the public and other detained juveniles; and
“(vii) any other relevant factor; and
“(C) if a court determines under subparagraph (B) that it is in the interest of justice to permit a juvenile to be held in a jail or lockup for adults—
“(i) the court shall hold a hearing not less frequently than once every 30 days, or in the case of a rural jurisdiction, not less frequently than once every 45 days, to review whether it is still in the interest of justice to permit the juvenile to be so held or have such sight or sound contact; and
“(ii) the juvenile shall not be held in any jail or lockup for adults, or be permitted to have sight or sound contact with adult inmates, for more than 180 days, unless the court, in writing, determines there is good cause for an extension or the juvenile expressly waives this limitation;”
“(1) In general—In the event that any State”
“(2) Local public and private nonprofit agencies—Local public and private nonprofit agencies within a State shall be eligible to receive funds under paragraph (1)—
“(A) only upon a showing by the State agency designated under subsection (a)(1) of exigent circumstances; and
“(B) in no case for more than 2 consecutive years.”