Texas Family Code 54.011 – Detention Hearings for Status Offenders and Nonoffenders; Penalty
(a) The detention hearing for a status offender or nonoffender who has not been released administratively under § 53.02 shall be held before the 24th hour after the time the child arrived at a detention facility, excluding hours of a weekend or a holiday. Except as otherwise provided by this section, the judge or referee conducting the detention hearing shall release the status offender or nonoffender from secure detention.
(b) The judge or referee may order a child in detention accused of the violation of a valid court order as defined by § 51.02 detained not longer than 72 hours after the time the detention order was entered, excluding weekends and holidays, if:
(1) the judge or referee finds at the detention hearing that there is probable cause to believe the child violated the valid court order; and
(2) the detention of the child is justified under § 54.01(e)(1), (2), or (3).
Attorney's Note
Under the Texas Codes, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class B misdemeanor | up to 180 days | up to $2,000 |
Terms Used In Texas Family Code 54.011
- Person: includes corporation, organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, association, and any other legal entity. See Texas Government Code 311.005
- Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
- United States: includes a department, bureau, or other agency of the United States of America. See Texas Government Code 311.005
(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), a detention order entered under Subsection (b) may be extended for one additional 72-hour period, excluding weekends and holidays, only on a finding of good cause by the juvenile court.
(d) A detention order for a child under this section may be extended on the demand of the child’s attorney only to allow the time that is necessary to comply with the requirements of § 51.10(h), entitling the attorney to 10 days to prepare for an adjudication hearing.
(e) A status offender may be detained for a necessary period, not to exceed the period allowed under the Interstate Compact for Juveniles, to enable the child’s return to the child’s home in another state under Chapter 60.
(f) Except as provided by Subsection (a), a nonoffender, including a person who has been taken into custody and is being held solely for deportation out of the United States, may not be detained for any period of time in a secure detention facility or secure correctional facility, regardless of whether the facility is publicly or privately operated. A nonoffender who is detained in violation of this subsection is entitled to immediate release from the facility and may bring a civil action for compensation for the illegal detention against any person responsible for the detention. A person commits an offense if the person knowingly detains or assists in detaining a nonoffender in a secure detention facility or secure correctional facility in violation of this subsection. An offense under this subsection is a Class B misdemeanor.