Bill > S1241

This bill aims to improve the collection of data on juveniles' interactions with law enforcement and the juvenile justice system to enhance state planning, as required by federal law (Title 42 of the United States Code, section 5633). It defines key terms like "contact" (any action by officials or contracted providers), "juvenile" (ages 7-17, or up to 21 if still in the system, and 14-17 charged with murder), "alternative lock-up program" (temporary holding facilities for youth before arraignment), "racial/ethnic category" (consistent with federal guidelines), and "type of crime" (consistent with national reporting systems). The Child Advocate will create a standardized form to record data such as age, gender, race/ethnicity, and type of crime at each point of contact. Various entities, including state and municipal police, court officials, district attorneys, the juvenile court, probation offices, the Department of Youth Services, sheriffs' departments, and the parole board, will be responsible for collecting this information for specific types of juvenile interactions, such as arrests, diversions, court proceedings, and detentions. The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, the Attorney General, the Chief Justice for Administration and Management, and the Executive Office for Human Services will then compile and publish this data annually, making it publicly accessible and providing it to the Office of the Child Advocate, with the first reports due by December 31, 2015. All individual data collected will be used solely for statistical purposes and will not be disseminated in a way that identifies individuals.