H.B. 185

             1     

JUVENILE DETENTION FACILITIES AMENDMENTS

             2     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Eric K. Hutchings

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Todd Weiler

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill makes changes related to the detainment of a minor in a juvenile detention
             10      facility.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    establishes considerations for a district court when determining placement of a
             14      minor;
             15          .    requires a district court to place a serious youth offender in a juvenile detention
             16      facility under certain circumstances;
             17          .    provides considerations for a juvenile court when binding a minor over to the
             18      jurisdiction of a district court until the time of the trial; and
             19          .    makes technical changes.
             20      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             21          None
             22      Other Special Clauses:
             23          None
             24      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             25      AMENDS:
             26           78A-6-701 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 38
             27           78A-6-702 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 186


             28           78A-6-703 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapters 38 and 193
             29     
             30      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             31          Section 1. Section 78A-6-701 is amended to read:
             32           78A-6-701. Jurisdiction of district court.
             33          (1) The district court has exclusive original jurisdiction over all persons 16 years of age
             34      or older charged with:
             35          (a) an offense which would be murder or aggravated murder if committed by an adult;
             36      or
             37          (b) an offense which would be a felony if committed by an adult if the minor has been
             38      previously committed to a secure facility as defined in Section 62A-7-101 . This Subsection
             39      (1)(b) shall not apply if the offense is committed in a secure facility.
             40          (2) When the district court has exclusive original jurisdiction over a minor under this
             41      section, it also has exclusive original jurisdiction over the minor regarding all offenses joined
             42      with the qualifying offense, and any other offenses, including misdemeanors, arising from the
             43      same criminal episode. The district court is not divested of jurisdiction by virtue of the fact
             44      that the minor is allowed to enter a plea to, or is found guilty of, a lesser or joined offense.
             45          (3) (a) Any felony, misdemeanor, or infraction committed after the offense over which
             46      the district court takes jurisdiction under Subsection (1) or (2) shall be tried against the
             47      defendant as an adult in the district court or justice court having jurisdiction.
             48          (b) If the qualifying charge under Subsection (1) results in an acquittal, a finding of not
             49      guilty, or a dismissal of the charge in the district court, the juvenile court under Section
             50      78A-6-103 and the Division of Juvenile Justice Services regain any jurisdiction and authority
             51      previously exercised over the minor.
             52          (4) A minor arrested under this section shall be held in a juvenile detention facility
             53      until the district court determines where the minor shall be held until the time of trial, except
             54      for defendants who are otherwise subject to the authority of the Board of Pardons and Parole.
             55          (5) The district court shall consider the following when determining where the minor
             56      will be held until the time of trial:
             57          (a) the age of the minor;
             58          (b) the nature, seriousness, and circumstances of the alleged offense;


             59          (c) the minor's history of prior criminal acts;
             60          (d) whether detention in a juvenile detention facility will adequately serve the need for
             61      community protection pending the outcome of any criminal proceedings;
             62          (e) whether the minor's placement in a juvenile detention facility will negatively impact
             63      the functioning of the facility by compromising the goals of the facility to maintain a safe,
             64      positive, and secure environment for all minors within the facility;
             65          (f) the relative ability of the facility to meet the needs of the minor and protect the
             66      public;
             67          (g) whether the minor presents an imminent risk of harm to the minor or others within
             68      the facility;
             69          (h) the physical maturity of the minor;
             70          (i) the current mental state of the minor as evidenced by relevant mental health or
             71      psychological assessments or screenings that are made available to the court; and
             72          (j) any other factors the court considers relevant.
             73          (6) A minor ordered to a juvenile detention facility under Subsection (5) shall remain
             74      in the facility until released by a district court judge, or if convicted, until sentencing.
             75          (7) A minor held in a juvenile detention facility under this section shall have the same
             76      right to bail as any other criminal defendant.
             77          (8) If the minor ordered to a juvenile detention facility under Subsection (5) attains the
             78      age of 18 years, the minor will be transferred within 30 days to an adult jail until released by
             79      the district court judge, or if convicted, until sentencing.
             80          (9) A minor 16 years of age or older whose conduct or condition endangers the safety
             81      or welfare of others in the juvenile detention facility may, by court order that specifies the
             82      reasons, be detained in another place of confinement considered appropriate by the court,
             83      including jail or other place of pretrial confinement for adults.
             84          Section 2. Section 78A-6-702 is amended to read:
             85           78A-6-702. Serious youth offender -- Procedure.
             86          (1) Any action filed by a county attorney, district attorney, or attorney general charging
             87      a minor 16 years of age or older with a felony shall be by criminal information and filed in the
             88      juvenile court if the information charges any of the following offenses:
             89          (a) any felony violation of:


             90          (i) Section 76-6-103 , aggravated arson;
             91          (ii) Section 76-5-103 , aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury to another;
             92          (iii) Section 76-5-302 , aggravated kidnapping;
             93          (iv) Section 76-6-203 , aggravated burglary;
             94          (v) Section 76-6-302 , aggravated robbery;
             95          (vi) Section 76-5-405 , aggravated sexual assault;
             96          (vii) Section 76-10-508.1 , felony discharge of a firearm;
             97          (viii) Section 76-5-202 , attempted aggravated murder; or
             98          (ix) Section 76-5-203 , attempted murder; or
             99          (b) an offense other than those listed in Subsection (1)(a) involving the use of a
             100      dangerous weapon, which would be a felony if committed by an adult, and the minor has been
             101      previously adjudicated or convicted of an offense involving the use of a dangerous weapon,
             102      which also would have been a felony if committed by an adult.
             103          (2) All proceedings before the juvenile court related to charges filed under Subsection
             104      (1) shall be conducted in conformity with the rules established by the Utah Supreme Court.
             105          (3) (a) If the information alleges the violation of a felony listed in Subsection (1), the
             106      state shall have the burden of going forward with its case and the burden of proof to establish
             107      probable cause to believe that one of the crimes listed in Subsection (1) has been committed
             108      and that the defendant committed it. If proceeding under Subsection (1)(b), the state shall have
             109      the additional burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant has
             110      previously been adjudicated or convicted of an offense involving the use of a dangerous
             111      weapon.
             112          (b) If the juvenile court judge finds the state has met its burden under this Subsection
             113      (3), the court shall order that the defendant be bound over and held to answer in the district
             114      court in the same manner as an adult unless the juvenile court judge finds that it would be
             115      contrary to the best interest of the minor and to the public to bind over the defendant to the
             116      jurisdiction of the district court.
             117          (c) In making the bind over determination in Subsection (3)(b), the judge shall consider
             118      only the following:
             119          (i) whether the minor has been previously adjudicated delinquent for an offense
             120      involving the use of a dangerous weapon which would be a felony if committed by an adult;


             121          (ii) if the offense was committed with one or more other persons, whether the minor
             122      appears to have a greater or lesser degree of culpability than the codefendants;
             123          (iii) the extent to which the minor's role in the offense was committed in a violent,
             124      aggressive, or premeditated manner;
             125          (iv) the number and nature of the minor's prior adjudications in the juvenile court; and
             126          (v) whether public safety is better served by adjudicating the minor in the juvenile
             127      court or in the district court.
             128          (d) Once the state has met its burden under Subsection (3)(a) as to a showing of
             129      probable cause, the defendant shall have the burden of going forward and presenting evidence
             130      that in light of the considerations listed in Subsection (3)(c), it would be contrary to the best
             131      interest of the minor and the best interests of the public to bind the defendant over to the
             132      jurisdiction of the district court.
             133          (e) If the juvenile court judge finds by clear and convincing evidence that it would be
             134      contrary to the best interest of the minor and the best interests of the public to bind the
             135      defendant over to the jurisdiction of the district court, the court shall so state in its findings and
             136      order the minor held for trial as a minor and shall proceed upon the information as though it
             137      were a juvenile petition.
             138          (4) If the juvenile court judge finds that an offense has been committed, but that the
             139      state has not met its burden of proving the other criteria needed to bind the defendant over
             140      under Subsection (1), the juvenile court judge shall order the defendant held for trial as a minor
             141      and shall proceed upon the information as though it were a juvenile petition.
             142          (5) At the time of a bind over to district court a criminal warrant of arrest shall issue.
             143      The defendant shall have the same right to bail as any other criminal defendant and shall be
             144      advised of that right by the juvenile court judge. The juvenile court shall set initial bail in
             145      accordance with Title 77, Chapter 20, Bail.
             146          (6) At the time the minor is bound over to the district court, the juvenile court shall
             147      make the initial determination on where the minor shall be held.
             148          (7) The juvenile court shall consider the following when determining where the minor
             149      shall be held until the time of trial:
             150          (a) the age of the minor;
             151          (b) the nature, seriousness, and circumstances of the alleged offense;


             152          (c) the minor's history of prior criminal acts;
             153          (d) whether detention in a juvenile detention facility will adequately serve the need for
             154      community protection pending the outcome of any criminal proceedings;
             155          (e) whether the minor's placement in a juvenile detention facility will negatively impact
             156      the functioning of the facility by compromising the goals of the facility to maintain a safe,
             157      positive, and secure environment for all minors within the facility;
             158          (f) the relative ability of the facility to meet the needs of the minor and protect the
             159      public;
             160          (g) whether the minor presents an imminent risk of harm to the minor or others within
             161      the facility;
             162          (h) the physical maturity of the minor;
             163          (i) the current mental state of the minor as evidenced by relevant mental health or
             164      psychological assessments or screenings that are made available to the court; and
             165          (j) any other factors the court considers relevant.
             166          (8) If a minor is ordered to a juvenile detention facility under Subsection (7), the minor
             167      shall remain in the facility until released by a district court judge, or if convicted, until
             168      sentencing.
             169          (9) A minor held in a juvenile detention facility under this section shall have the same
             170      right to bail as any other criminal defendant.
             171          (10) If the minor ordered to a juvenile detention facility under Subsection (7) attains
             172      the age of 18 years, the minor shall be transferred within 30 days to an adult jail until released
             173      by the district court judge, or if convicted, until sentencing.
             174          (11) A minor 16 years of age or older whose conduct or condition endangers the safety
             175      or welfare of others in the juvenile detention facility may, by court order that specifies the
             176      reasons, be detained in another place of pretrial confinement considered appropriate by the
             177      court, including jail or other place of confinement for adults.
             178          (12) A district court may review the decision made by the juvenile court on where the
             179      minor will be held pursuant to Subsection (6).
             180          [(6)] (13) If an indictment is returned by a grand jury charging a violation under this
             181      section, the preliminary examination held by the juvenile court judge need not include a finding
             182      of probable cause that the crime alleged in the indictment was committed and that the


             183      defendant committed it, but the juvenile court shall proceed in accordance with this section
             184      regarding the additional considerations listed in Subsection (3)(b).
             185          [(7)] (14) When a defendant is charged with multiple criminal offenses in the same
             186      information or indictment and is bound over to answer in the district court for one or more
             187      charges under this section, other offenses arising from the same criminal episode and any
             188      subsequent misdemeanors or felonies charged against him shall be considered together with
             189      those charges, and where the court finds probable cause to believe that those crimes have been
             190      committed and that the defendant committed them, the defendant shall also be bound over to
             191      the district court to answer for those charges.
             192          [(8)] (15) When a minor has been bound over to the district court under this section,
             193      the jurisdiction of the Division of Juvenile Justice Services and the juvenile court over the
             194      minor is terminated regarding that offense, any other offenses arising from the same criminal
             195      episode, and any subsequent misdemeanors or felonies charged against the minor, except as
             196      provided in Subsection (12).
             197          [(9)] (16) A minor who is bound over to answer as an adult in the district court under
             198      this section or on whom an indictment has been returned by a grand jury is not entitled to a
             199      preliminary examination in the district court.
             200          [(10)] (17) Allegations contained in the indictment or information that the defendant
             201      has previously been adjudicated or convicted of an offense involving the use of a dangerous
             202      weapon, or is 16 years of age or older, are not elements of the criminal offense and do not need
             203      to be proven at trial in the district court.
             204          [(11)] (18) If a minor enters a plea to, or is found guilty of, any of the charges filed or
             205      any other offense arising from the same criminal episode, the district court retains jurisdiction
             206      over the minor for all purposes, including sentencing.
             207          [(12)] (19) The juvenile court under Section 78A-6-103 and the Division of Juvenile
             208      Justice Services regain jurisdiction and any authority previously exercised over the minor when
             209      there is an acquittal, a finding of not guilty, or dismissal of all charges in the district court.
             210          Section 3. Section 78A-6-703 is amended to read:
             211           78A-6-703. Certification hearings -- Juvenile court to hold preliminary hearing --
             212      Factors considered by juvenile court for waiver of jurisdiction to district court.
             213          (1) If a criminal information filed in accordance with Subsection 78A-6-602 (3) alleges


             214      the commission of an act which would constitute a felony if committed by an adult, the
             215      juvenile court shall conduct a preliminary hearing.
             216          (2) At the preliminary hearing the state shall have the burden of going forward with its
             217      case and the burden of establishing:
             218          (a) probable cause to believe that a crime was committed and that the defendant
             219      committed it; and
             220          (b) by a preponderance of the evidence, that it would be contrary to the best interests of
             221      the minor or of the public for the juvenile court to retain jurisdiction.
             222          (3) In considering whether or not it would be contrary to the best interests of the minor
             223      or of the public for the juvenile court to retain jurisdiction, the juvenile court shall consider,
             224      and may base its decision on, the finding of one or more of the following factors:
             225          (a) the seriousness of the offense and whether the protection of the community requires
             226      isolation of the minor beyond that afforded by juvenile facilities;
             227          (b) whether the alleged offense was committed by the minor under circumstances
             228      which would subject the minor to enhanced penalties under Section 76-3-203.1 if the minor
             229      were adult and the offense was committed:
             230          (i) in concert with two or more persons;
             231          (ii) for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with any criminal street gang
             232      as defined in Section 76-9-802 ; or
             233          (iii) to gain recognition, acceptance, membership, or increased status with a criminal
             234      street gang as defined in Section 76-9-802 ;
             235          (c) whether the alleged offense was committed in an aggressive, violent, premeditated,
             236      or willful manner;
             237          (d) whether the alleged offense was against persons or property, greater weight being
             238      given to offenses against persons, except as provided in Section 76-8-418 ;
             239          (e) the maturity of the minor as determined by considerations of the minor's home,
             240      environment, emotional attitude, and pattern of living;
             241          (f) the record and previous history of the minor;
             242          (g) the likelihood of rehabilitation of the minor by use of facilities available to the
             243      juvenile court;
             244          (h) the desirability of trial and disposition of the entire offense in one court when the


             245      minor's associates in the alleged offense are adults who will be charged with a crime in the
             246      district court;
             247          (i) whether the minor used a firearm in the commission of an offense; and
             248          (j) whether the minor possessed a dangerous weapon on or about school premises as
             249      provided in Section 76-10-505.5 .
             250          (4) The amount of weight to be given to each of the factors listed in Subsection (3) is
             251      discretionary with the court.
             252          (5) (a) Written reports and other materials relating to the minor's mental, physical,
             253      educational, and social history may be considered by the court.
             254          (b) If requested by the minor, the minor's parent, guardian, or other interested party, the
             255      court shall require the person or agency preparing the report and other material to appear and
             256      be subject to both direct and cross-examination.
             257          (6) At the conclusion of the state's case, the minor may testify under oath, call
             258      witnesses, cross-examine adverse witnesses, and present evidence on the factors required by
             259      Subsection (3).
             260          (7) At the time the minor is bound over to the district court, the juvenile court shall
             261      make the initial determination on where the minor shall be held.
             262          (8) The juvenile court shall consider the following when determining where the minor
             263      will be held until the time of trial:
             264          (a) the age of the minor;
             265          (b) the nature, seriousness, and circumstances of the alleged offense;
             266          (c) the minor's history of prior criminal acts;
             267          (d) whether detention in a juvenile detention facility will adequately serve the need for
             268      community protection pending the outcome of any criminal proceedings;
             269          (e) whether the minor's placement in a juvenile detention facility will negatively impact
             270      the functioning of the facility by compromising the goals of the facility to maintain a safe,
             271      positive, and secure environment for all minors within the facility;
             272          (f) the relative ability of the facility to meet the needs of the minor and protect the
             273      public;
             274          (g) whether the minor presents an imminent risk of harm to the minor or others within
             275      the facility;


             276          (h) the physical maturity of the minor;
             277          (i) the current mental state of the minor as evidenced by relevant mental health or
             278      psychological assessments or screenings that are made available to the court; and
             279          (j) any other factors the court considers relevant.
             280          (9) If a minor is ordered to a juvenile detention facility under Subsection (8), the minor
             281      shall remain in the facility until released by a district court judge, or if convicted, until
             282      sentencing.
             283          (10) A minor held in a juvenile detention facility under this section shall have the same
             284      right to bail as any other criminal defendant.
             285          (11) If the minor ordered to a juvenile detention facility under Subsection (8) attains
             286      the age of 18 years, the minor shall be transferred within 30 days to an adult jail until released
             287      by the district court judge, or if convicted, until sentencing.
             288          (12) A minor 16 years of age or older whose conduct or condition endangers the safety
             289      or welfare of others in the juvenile detention facility may, by court order that specifies the
             290      reasons, be detained in another place of confinement considered appropriate by the court,
             291      including jail or other place of confinement for adults.
             292          (13) A district court may review the decision from the juvenile court on where the
             293      minor shall be held pursuant to Subsection (7).
             294          [(7)] (14) If the court finds the state has met its burden under Subsection (2), the court
             295      may enter an order:
             296          (a) certifying that finding; and
             297          (b) directing that the minor be held for criminal proceedings in the district court.
             298          [(8)] (15) If an indictment is returned by a grand jury, the preliminary examination held
             299      by the juvenile court need not include a finding of probable cause, but the juvenile court shall
             300      proceed in accordance with this section regarding the additional consideration referred to in
             301      Subsection (2)(b).
             302          [(9)] (16) The provisions of Section 78A-6-115 , Section 78A-6-1111 , and other
             303      provisions relating to proceedings in juvenile cases are applicable to the hearing held under this
             304      section to the extent they are pertinent.
             305          [(10)] (17) A minor who has been directed to be held for criminal proceedings in the
             306      district court is not entitled to a preliminary examination in the district court.


             307          [(11)] (18) A minor who has been certified for trial in the district court shall have the
             308      same right to bail as any other criminal defendant and shall be advised of that right by the
             309      juvenile court judge. The juvenile court shall set initial bail in accordance with Title 77,
             310      Chapter 20, Bail.
             311          [(12)] (19) When a minor has been certified to the district court under this section, the
             312      jurisdiction of the Division of Juvenile Justice Services and the jurisdiction of the juvenile
             313      court over the minor is terminated regarding that offense, any other offenses arising from the
             314      same criminal episode, and any subsequent misdemeanors or felonies charged against the
             315      minor, except as provided in Subsection (14).
             316          [(13)] (20) If a minor enters a plea to, or is found guilty of any of the charges filed or
             317      on any other offense arising out of the same criminal episode, the district court retains
             318      jurisdiction over the minor for all purposes, including sentencing.
             319          [(14)] (21) The juvenile court under Section 78A-6-103 and the Division of Juvenile
             320      Justice Services regain jurisdiction and any authority previously exercised over the minor when
             321      there is an acquittal, a finding of not guilty, or dismissal of all charges in the district court.




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