MS HB21

Requires law enforcement to notify and have a parent, guardian, or custodian present before any interrogation of a child 17 years of age or younger who has been taken into custody

Amends Section 43-21-303 of the Mississippi Code of 1972, which governs when and how children may be taken into custody in youth court matters

Maintains existing requirements that children taken into custody must be released within 24 hours unless a judge authorizes temporary custody

Preserves existing provisions allowing law enforcement to take children into custody when grounds exist for arrest, probable cause shows custody is necessary, and no reasonable alternative exists

Effective date of July 1, 2010