Connecticut General Statutes 46b-148 – Child from family with service needs not to be held in juvenile residential center or convicted as delinquent for violation of court order re future conduct. Court determination re placement or commitment of chi…
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter: (1) No child who has been adjudicated as a child from a family with service needs in accordance with section 46b-149 may be processed or held in a juvenile residential center as a delinquent child, or be convicted as delinquent, solely for the violation of a valid order which regulates future conduct of the child that was issued by the court following such an adjudication; and (2) no such child who is found to be in violation of any such order may be punished for such violation by placement in any juvenile residential center.
Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 46b-148
- Child: means any person under eighteen years of age who has not been legally emancipated, except that for purposes of delinquency matters and proceedings, "child" means any person who (A) is at least ten years of age at the time of the alleged commission of a delinquent act and who is (i) under eighteen years of age and has not been legally emancipated, or (ii) eighteen years of age or older and committed a delinquent act prior to attaining eighteen years of age, or (B) subsequent to attaining eighteen years of age, (i) violates any order of the Superior Court or any condition of probation ordered by the Superior Court with respect to a delinquency proceeding, or (ii) wilfully fails to appear in response to a summons under section 46b-133 or at any other court hearing in a delinquency proceeding of which the child had notice. See Connecticut General Statutes 46b-120
- Family with service needs: means a family that includes a child who is at least seven years of age and is under eighteen years of age who, according to a petition lawfully filed on or before June 30, 2020, (A) has without just cause run away from the parental home or other properly authorized and lawful place of abode, (B) is beyond the control of the child's parent, parents, guardian or other custodian, (C) has engaged in indecent or immoral conduct, or (D) is thirteen years of age or older and has engaged in sexual intercourse with another person and such other person is thirteen years of age or older and not more than two years older or younger than such child. See Connecticut General Statutes 46b-120
- Juvenile residential center: means a hardware-secured residential facility operated by the Court Support Services Division of the Judicial Branch that includes direct staff supervision, surveillance enhancements and physical barriers that allow for close supervision and controlled movement in a treatment setting for preadjudicated juveniles and juveniles adjudicated as delinquent. See Connecticut General Statutes 46b-120
(b) In entering any order that directs or authorizes placement or commitment of a child who has been adjudicated as a child from a family with service needs in accordance with section 46b-149, the court shall make a determination that there is no less restrictive alternative appropriate to the needs of such child and the community.