S.F. No. 4236 Summary

• Prohibits use of restraints on juveniles in court unless the court finds restraints are necessary to prevent physical harm or substantial risk of flight, and no less restrictive alternatives exist such as court personnel or law enforcement presence.

• Requires courts to provide juveniles' behavior history and opportunity to be heard before ordering restraints, and to make written findings of fact if restraints are ordered.

• Mandates each judicial district develop an implementation protocol by April 1, 2021, in consultation with law enforcement, prosecutors, public defenders, and other relevant entities.

• Requires facilities to use an objective, racially, ethnically, and gender-responsive juvenile detention risk assessment instrument before detaining a child, assessing likelihood of danger to others or failure to appear at court.

• Establishes that the risk assessment instrument must identify appropriate settings including continued detention or noncustodial community-based supervision, with required release if assessment indicates the child should be released.