The bill proposes to repeal the existing section 211.061 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri and replace it with a new section that outlines the procedures for the detention of juveniles. The new section mandates that when a child is taken into custody, they must be brought directly before the juvenile court or a designated juvenile officer. It also establishes that if a case involving a minor is brought before a circuit or municipal judge, the judge must transfer the case to juvenile court if it is determined that the individual is under eighteen and subject to juvenile jurisdiction. Additionally, the bill stipulates that a juvenile cannot be held in detention for more than twenty-four hours without a court-ordered detention hearing. If the hearing is not conducted within three days, the juvenile must be released unless the court has a valid reason to extend the hearing. The bill further details the rights of the juvenile during the detention hearing, including the right to counsel, and outlines the criteria under which a juvenile may be detained, such as the necessity for protection or the risk of flight. The new provisions aim to ensure that the detention process is fair and that the rights of juveniles are upheld.

Statutes affected:
Introduced (4719H.01): 211.061