SB 591: Detention of juveniles in secure facility; possession of certain firearms by juveniles

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http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp504.exe?101+sum+SB591

Full Text

Detention of juveniles in secure facility; possession of certain firearms by juveniles. Clarifies that a juvenile may be detained in a secure facility if the juvenile is alleged to have violated § 18.2-308.7 (possession or transportation of a handgun or assault weapon by a person under the age of 18).

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I hope nobody that violates the law is held in an unsecured facility. Although I disagree with the arbitrary age requirement involved with the law in question.

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The full text is posted now. It looks like the intention is to add this one violation to the prior criteria which much be reached in order to lock up a juvenile (as opposed to releasing them to the care of a parent or guardian). The current criteria are that the crime would be a felony, or a Class 1 misdemeanor if the juvenile were an adult.

This is rather odd, since the violation of a juvenile in possession of a handgun is already a Class 1 misdemeanor. I don't see what this bill changes.

TFred