Section 19 Decision toReleaseorDetain

• Library: Juvenile Law 2011

If a child in custody for an alleged law violation or status offense is personally presented to the juvenile officer, the officer may, unless otherwise ordered by the juvenile court, either release the child under conditions the officer sees fit to impose or detain the child in a juvenile detention facility. Rule 127.04.a; § 211.141.2, RSMo Supp. 2010. The juvenile officer may authorize temporary detention of the juvenile without order of the court, but temporary detention cannot exceed 24 hours unless continued detention is court-ordered. Rule 127.06.

When a child in custody is delivered to a juvenile court‑operated detention facility rather than to the juvenile officer, the person in charge of the detention facility must notify the juvenile officer or juvenile court judge that the child has been received into the facility. The child may then be released if neither the juvenile officer nor the judge disagrees with the release. Rule 127.04.b–.c. Missouri law prohibits authorities from detaining juveniles under the age of 17 years in jail. Section 211.151.2...