SF994 Summary

• Prohibits use of restraints on juveniles in court unless necessary to prevent physical harm or substantial flight risk, with court findings of fact required and less restrictive alternatives exhausted by July 1, 2017.

• Authorizes peace officers to refer juveniles to diversion programs instead of arrest for non-violent felony offenses, with charges dismissed upon completion of program conditions.

• Eliminates mandatory minimum sentences for juveniles certified under section 260B.125 or designated as extended jurisdiction juveniles, allowing judges discretion based on adolescent brain development differences.

• Changes sentences for juveniles under 18 convicted of crimes requiring life without release to life imprisonment with possibility of release after serving minimum 20 years.

• Requires adoption of objective, racially and gender-responsive juvenile detention risk assessment instruments by September 15, 2016, to be used in release decisions and identify appropriate supervision settings by January 1, 2017.