Section 20 Participation inDetentionHearingsandProtectiveCustodyHearings

• Library: Juvenile Law 2011

Detained children are entitled to a detention hearing to be conducted by the court within three days of their detention admission. Rule 127.07.d. Before that hearing, the juvenile officer has many responsibilities, which are often delegated to a staff of deputies. First, the juvenile officer must acquire and analyze all available facts to determine if the detained child comes within the provisions of the Juvenile Code, Chapter 211, RSMo. See § 211.031, RSMo Supp. 2010. Because a petition or motion to modify must be filed to hold a juvenile in detention beyond the first 24 hours, some of the investigation or analysis will be completed before the detention hearing.

At the detention hearing, the court will want to consider various factors when determining whether continued detention is warranted. The juvenile officer or deputy juvenile officer must investigate
the child’s personal, family, and community background to...