HOUSE BILL 156

56th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2024

INTRODUCED BY

William "Bill" R. Rehm

 

 

 

 

 

AN ACT

RELATING TO DELINQUENCY; PROVIDING THAT CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF FIFTEEN IN JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITIES BE SEGREGATED FROM CHILDREN FIFTEEN YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. A new section of the Delinquency Act, Section 32A-2-4.2 NMSA 1978, is enacted to read:

     "32A-2-4.2. [NEW MATERIAL] JUVENILES UNDER FIFTEEN YEARS OF AGE IN DETENTION FACILITIES.--A child under fifteen years of age who was arrested for an alleged delinquent act and is detained in a juvenile detention facility shall be placed in a setting that is physically segregated by sight and sound from children fifteen years of age and older."

     SECTION 2. Section 32A-2-12 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1993, Chapter 77, Section 41, as amended) is amended to read:

     "32A-2-12. PLACEMENT OR DETENTION.--

          A. A child alleged to be a delinquent child may be placed or detained, pending a court hearing, in any of the following places:

                (1) a licensed foster home or a home otherwise authorized under the law to provide foster or group care;

                (2) a facility operated by a licensed child welfare services agency;

                (3) a shelter-care facility provided for in the Children's Shelter Care Act that is in compliance with all standards, conditions and regulatory requirements and that shall be considered a temporary placement subject to judicial review within thirty days of placement;

                (4) a detention facility certified by the department for children alleged to be delinquent children; provided that children under fifteen years of age shall be placed in a setting that is physically segregated by sight and sound from children fifteen years of age and older;

                (5) any other suitable place, other than a facility for the long-term care and rehabilitation of delinquent children to which children adjudicated as delinquent may be confined pursuant to Section 32A-2-19 NMSA 1978, designated by the court [and] that meets the standards for detention facilities pursuant to the Children's Code and federal law; or

                (6) the child's home or place of residence, under conditions and restrictions approved by the court.

          B. A child alleged to be a youthful offender may be detained, pending a court hearing, in any of the following places:

                (1) a detention facility, licensed by the department, for children alleged to be delinquent children; provided that children under fifteen years of age shall be placed in a setting that is physically segregated by sight and sound from children fifteen years of age and older; or

                (2) any other suitable place, other than a facility for the long-term care and rehabilitation of delinquent children to which children adjudicated as delinquent children may be confined pursuant to Section 32A-2-19 NMSA 1978, designated by the court [and] that meets the standards for detention facilities pursuant to the Children's Code and federal law.

          C. A child adjudicated as a youthful offender who is violent toward staff or other residents in a detention facility may be transferred and detained, pending a court hearing, in a county jail. In the event that a child is detained in a jail, the director of the jail shall presume that the child is vulnerable to victimization by inmates within the adult population because of the child's age and shall take measures to provide protection to the child. However, provision of protective measures shall not result in diminishing a child's civil rights to less than those existing for an incarcerated adult.

          D. A child who has previously been incarcerated as an adult or a person who is eighteen years of age or older shall not be detained in a juvenile detention facility or a facility for the long-term care and rehabilitation of delinquent children but may be detained in a county jail. A child shall not be transferred to a county jail solely on the basis of attaining the age of eighteen while detained in a juvenile detention facility. In the event that a child is detained in a jail, the director of the jail shall presume that the child is vulnerable to victimization by inmates within the adult population because of the child's age, and shall take measures to provide protection to the child. However, provision of protective measures shall not result in diminishing a child's civil rights to less than those existing for an incarcerated adult.

          E. A child alleged to be a serious youthful offender may be detained pending a court hearing in any of the following places, prior to arraignment in metropolitan, magistrate or district court:

                (1) a detention facility, licensed by the department, for children alleged to be delinquent children; provided that children under fifteen years of age shall be placed in a setting that is physically segregated by sight and sound from children fifteen years of age and older;

                (2) any other suitable place, other than a facility for the long-term care and rehabilitation of delinquent children to which children adjudicated as delinquent children may be confined pursuant to Section 32A-2-19 NMSA 1978, designated by the court that meets the standards for detention facilities pursuant to the Children's Code and federal law; or

                (3) a county jail, if a facility in Paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection is not appropriate. In the event that a child is detained in a jail, the director of the jail shall presume that the child is vulnerable to victimization by inmates within the adult population because of the child's age and shall take measures to provide protection to the child. However, provision of protective measures shall not result in diminishing a child's civil rights to less than those existing for an incarcerated adult.

          F. When a person who is eighteen years of age or older is taken into custody and transported to an adult facility on a juvenile warrant or an adult warrant or other adult charges and an outstanding juvenile warrant exists, notice shall be given to the children's court attorney and the juvenile probation and parole office in the jurisdiction where the juvenile warrant was issued within one day of the person being taken into custody. The juvenile probation and parole office shall give notice that the person has been taken into custody to the children's court judge and the attorney who represented the person in the juvenile proceeding.

          G. In addition to the judicial review required by Paragraph (3) of Subsection A of this section, a child detained in an out-of-home placement pursuant to this section may request judicial review of the appropriateness of the placement."

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