Juvenile Secure Detention.

Abstract

Abstract Detention of juveniles means holding a minor in custody until someone, somewhere, under vague circumstances determines the best course of action for the youngster. Since standards and goals for such detention are often vague, a wide variety of citizen action groups have attempted to develop criteria for secure detention. This article examines the issues which surround this detention of young people, and specifically looks at Westchester County, in New York State, as it attempts to comply with the increasing number of juveniles held due to New York State's Juvenile Offender Law. The length of stay, violation of the “least restrictive principle” and the negative effects in youth are all discussed. The author concludes that new statutory criteria must be developed for admission of youths to secure facilities and that the burden of proof must be on the state and not on the youth about to be detained.