MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2002 Regular Session

To: Juvenile Justice

By: Representative Flaggs

House Bill 974

AN ACT TO PROVIDE MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR THE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERS IN THE STATE; TO PROVIDE FOR HEALTH SCREENING FOR ALL JUVENILES UPON ADMISSION TO JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERS; TO REQUIRE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERS TO DEVELOP CERTAIN WRITTEN PROCEDURES FOR JUVENILES THAT ARE NEW TO THE SYSTEM; TO REQUIRE THAT CERTAIN PROGRAMS SHALL BE PROVIDED AT ALL JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

     BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

     SECTION 1.  (1)  All juveniles shall undergo a health screening within one (1) hour of admission to any juvenile detention center.  Information obtained during the screening shall include, but shall not be limited to the juvenile is:

          (a)  Mental health;

          (b)  Suicide risk;

          (c)  Alcohol and other drug use and abuse;

          (d)  Physical health;

          (e)  Aggressive behavior;

          (f)  Family relations;

          (g)  Peer relations;

          (h)  Social skills;

          (i)  Educational status; and

          (j)  Vocational status.

     (2)  If the screening instrument indicates that a juvenile is in need of emergency medical care or mental health intervention services, the juvenile shall not be admitted into detention.  The detention staff shall refer such juveniles to the proper health care facility or mental health service provider for further evaluation.

     (3)  All juveniles shall receive a thorough orientation to the center's procedures, rules, programs and services.  The intake process shall operate on twenty-four hours per day.

     (4)  The directors of all of the juvenile detention centers shall amend or develop written procedures for admission of juveniles new to the system.  These shall include, but are not limited to the following:

          (a)  Determine that the juvenile is legally committed to the facility;

          (b)  Make a complete search of the juvenile and his possessions;

          (c)  Dispose of personal property;

          (d)  Require shower and hair care, if necessary;

          (e)  Issue clean, laundered clothing, as needed;

          (f)  Issue personal hygiene articles;

          (g)  Perform medical, dental and mental health screening;

          (h)  Assign a housing unit for the juvenile;

          (i)  Record basic personal data and information to be used for mail and visiting lists;

          (j)  Assist juveniles in notifying their families of their admission and procedures for mail and visiting;

          (k)  Assign a registered number to the juvenile; and

          (l)  Provide written orientation materials to the juvenile.

     (5)  All detention centers shall provide or make available the following minimum services and programs:

          (a)  An educational program;

          (b)  A visitation program with parents and guardians;

          (c)  Private communications with visitors and staff;

          (e)  Counseling;

          (f)  Continuous supervision of living units;

          (g)  Medical service;

          (h)  Food service;

          (i)  Recreation and exercise program; and

          (j)  Reading materials.

     (6)  Programs and services shall be initiated for all juveniles once they have completed the admissions process.

     (7)  Programs and professional services may be provided by the detention staff, youth court staff or the staff of the local or state agencies, or such programs and professional services may be provided through contractual arrangements with community agencies.

     (8)  Persons providing the services required in this section shall be qualified or trained in their respective fields.

     (9)  All directors of juvenile detention centers shall amend or develop written procedures to fit the programs and services described herein.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2002.

---