True or False: Juveniles can be taken into custody and placed in non-secure custody for failure to appear and failure to pay.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only with a warrant
• D. Only if the offense is violent

Answer: (A)

When a juvenile misses a court appearance or fails to pay a court-ordered fine, authorities have a mechanism to enforce compliance by taking the youth into custody. This detention can be in a non-secure setting, which is less restrictive than a locked detention facility, provided the youth isn’t a danger to themselves or others and the matter is administrative or delinquency-related rather than a violent crime. The goal is to ensure the juvenile appears in court and abides by the court’s orders, not to punish for a violent act. A warrant may be involved in ongoing noncompliance, but the initial step to secure appearance or payment can occur without imposing secure confinement. This is why the statement is true.