Why doesn a youth go to detention for committing an offense?
There are two main reasons why a juvenile would not go to detention for committing an offense. One reason is that the offense they committed does not meet statewide detention admission guidelines. A statewide holdable list specifically outlines which offenses may admit a youth into detention. If the offense is not on the holdable list, the police officer can still bring the youth to the detention center. At the detention center the staff will contact the youth’s parents or another responsible adult for the youth to return home. The youth then would get a notice to appear in juvenile court. The other reason is police discretion. The officer has the discretion based on the seriousness of the offense and what type of behavior the youth is demonstrating at the time they are taken into custody. The officer may feel that the youth would be better served if they were sent back to their parents. The officer would still refer the offense to the juvenile court and the youth still has to go to co
