A Connecticut Juvenile Court judge has the authority to send a child to juvenile detention. Basically, juveniel detention is a secure facility where a child who has been arrested is held. There are two Juvenile Detention Centers in Connecticut – one in Bridgeport and the other in Hartford.
A child ends up in juvenile detention in one of two ways:
The police.
At the time a child is arrested, the law enforcement can place them in detention if they are charged with a serious juvenile offense.
A judge.
A child can also be sent to detention by a Juvenile Court judge during the initial court appearance (arraignment) or if they violate court orders.
The judge must determine whether at least one of the following grounds for detention exists:
- The child will run away;
- The child will commit or attempt to commit other offenses injurious to the child or the community;
- Allowing the child to continue to live in their home poses a risk to the child or the community because of the dangerous act(s) the child allegedly committed;
- The need to hold the child for another court;
- The need to hold the child to make sure the child appears for this case; or
- The child has violated previous orders suspending placement in detention.
How long does a child stay in detention?
A judge must review a child’s stay in detention at least every fifteen days. At the hearing, the judge will listen to arguments from the Prosecutor and the child’s attorney on the continued need for the child to be detained. A favorable report from detention staff and reasonable assurances from the child go a long way.
What happens when a child is released from detention?
If a child is discharged from detention, they are typically released to a parent or guardian under certain court imposed requirements. For example, a child may be on house arrest, have to wear an electronic monitoring bracelet or submit to drug testing as conditions of release. If they mess up, they are back in detention and usually for much longer.