ND HB1520

Individuals under age 17 are deemed incapable of committing an offense, with prosecution as an adult barred if the offense was committed before age 14; individuals age 10 or older may be assessed for mental fitness or capacity.

Law enforcement must use a detention screening tool with objective factors to determine appropriate child detention; juvenile drug court may detain participating children up to twice in a one-year period for a maximum of four days total.

Courts must make findings ensuring delinquent children receive appropriate treatment or rehabilitation, accountability to victims, and community safety; disposition options include probation, fines, restitution, community service, drug testing, and juvenile drug court participation.

Children adjudicated for sexual offenses must be assessed within 30 days using age-appropriate social assessments to determine appropriate treatment levels.

Victims of delinquent children or their guardians may inspect juvenile court records pertaining to the specific offense with medical, educational, and school information redacted; individuals with access to these records cannot share information with unauthorized persons and face class B misdemeanor penalties for violations.