A. A child alleged to be a delinquent child may be placed or detained, pending a court hearing, in any of the following places:

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Terms Used In New Mexico Statutes 32A-2-12

  • Arraignment: A proceeding in which an individual who is accused of committing a crime is brought into court, told of the charges, and asked to plead guilty or not guilty.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.

(1)     a licensed foster home or a home otherwise authorized under the law to provide foster or group care;

(2)     a facility operated by a licensed child welfare services agency;

(3)     a shelter-care facility provided for in the Children’s Shelter Care Act [32A- 9-1 to 32A-9-7 N.M. Stat. Ann.] that is in compliance with all standards, conditions and regulatory requirements and that shall be considered a temporary placement subject to judicial review within thirty days of placement;

(4)     a detention facility certified by the department for children alleged to be delinquent children;

(5)     any other suitable place, other than a facility for the long-term care and rehabilitation of delinquent children to which children adjudicated as delinquent may be confined pursuant to Section 32A-2-19 N.M. Stat. Ann., designated by the court and that meets the standards for detention facilities pursuant to the Children’s Code and federal law; or

(6)     the child’s home or place of residence, under conditions and restrictions approved by the court.

B. A child alleged to be a youthful offender may be detained, pending a court hearing, in any of the following places:

(1)     a detention facility, licensed by the department, for children alleged to be delinquent children; or

(2)     any other suitable place, other than a facility for the long-term care and rehabilitation of delinquent children to which children adjudicated as delinquent children may be confined pursuant to Section 32A-2-19 N.M. Stat. Ann., designated by the court and that meets the standards for detention facilities pursuant to the Children’s Code and federal law.

C. A child adjudicated as a youthful offender who is violent toward staff or other residents in a detention facility may be transferred and detained, pending a court hearing, in a county jail. In the event that a child is detained in a jail, the director of the jail shall presume that the child is vulnerable to victimization by inmates within the adult population because of the child’s age, and shall take measures to provide protection to the child. However, provision of protective measures shall not result in diminishing a child’s civil rights to less than those existing for an incarcerated adult.

D. A child who has previously been incarcerated as an adult or a person eighteen years of age or older shall not be detained in a juvenile detention facility or a facility for the long-term care and rehabilitation of delinquent children, but may be detained in a county jail. A child shall not be transferred to a county jail solely on the basis of attaining the age of eighteen while detained in a juvenile detention facility. In the event that a child is detained in a jail, the director of the jail shall presume that the child is vulnerable to victimization by inmates within the adult population because of the child’s age, and shall take measures to provide protection to the child. However, provision of protective measures shall not result in diminishing a child’s civil rights to less than those existing for an incarcerated adult.

E. A child alleged to be a serious youthful offender may be detained pending a court hearing in any of the following places, prior to arraignment in metropolitan, magistrate or district court:

(1)     a detention facility, licensed by the department, for children alleged to be delinquent children;

(2)     any other suitable place, other than a facility for the long-term care and rehabilitation of delinquent children to which children adjudicated as delinquent children may be confined pursuant to Section 32A-2-19 N.M. Stat. Ann., designated by the court that meets the standards for detention facilities pursuant to the Children’s Code and federal law; or

(3)     a county jail, if a facility in Paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection is not appropriate. In the event that a child is detained in a jail, the director of the jail shall presume that the child is vulnerable to victimization by inmates within the adult population because of the child’s age and shall take measures to provide protection to the child. However, provision of protective measures shall not result in diminishing a child’s civil rights to less than those existing for an incarcerated adult.

F. When a person who is eighteen years of age or older is taken into custody and transported to an adult facility on a juvenile warrant or an adult warrant or other adult charges and an outstanding juvenile warrant exists, notice shall be given to the children’s court attorney and the juvenile probation and parole office in the jurisdiction where the juvenile warrant was issued within one day of the person being taken into custody. The juvenile probation and parole office shall give notice that the person has been taken into custody to the children’s court judge and the attorney who represented the person in the juvenile proceeding.

G. In addition to the judicial review required by Paragraph (3) of Subsection A of this section, a child detained in an out-of-home placement pursuant to this section may request judicial review of the appropriateness of the placement.