S.B. 386 Summary

• Prohibits minors believed to come within section 571-11(1) or awaiting trial in criminal court from having sight or sound contact with adult inmates or being held in adult jails/lockups, unless a court finds after a hearing and in writing that it is in the interest of justice.

• Permits detention of minors in adult facilities for up to six hours for processing, release, transfer to juvenile facilities, or court appearances occurring within that period.

• Allows detention of minors in adult facilities for up to 48 hours (or extended periods in rural areas with transportation constraints) while awaiting initial court appearance if no acceptable alternative placement exists, provided no sight or sound contact with adult inmates.

• Requires staff working with both minors and adults in collocated facilities to be trained and certified to work with juveniles.

• Mandates circuit courts to commit all convicted offenders under eighteen years of age to Hawaii youth correctional facilities when the court deems such sentence more suitable than other authorized punishment.