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HomeWelfare and Institutions CodeDiv. 2Pt. 1Ch. 2Art. 1§ 207 Minor Detention Restrictions

§ 207 Minor Detention Restrictions

Welfare and Institutions Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
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§ 207 Minor Detention Restrictions

Key Takeaways

  • •Kids who run away or skip school can't be locked up in jail or juvenile hall unless there's a special reason.
  • •If cops or probation officers think there might be a warrant for the kid, they can hold them for up to 12 hours to check.
  • •If they need to find the kid's parents, they can hold them for up to 24 hours before sending them home.
  • •Kids who run away can't be mixed with kids who broke serious laws while they're being held.

Example

A 15-year-old runs away from home and is found by the police.

The police can hold the kid for up to 24 hours to find their parents and send them home. They can't lock them up with kids who committed crimes like stealing or hurting someone.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 207 Minor Detention Restrictions

(a) A minor shall not be detained in any jail, lockup, juvenile hall, or other secure facility if the minor is taken into custody solely upon the ground that the minor is a person described by Section 213.3, or described by Section 601 or adjudged to be such or made a ward of the juvenile court solely upon that ground, except as provided in subdivision (b). If any such minor, other than a minor described in subdivision (b), is detained, the minor shall be detained in a sheltered-care facility or crisis resolution home as provided for in Section 654, or in a nonsecure facility provided for in subdivision (a), (b), (c), or (d) of Section 727. (b) A minor taken into custody upon the ground that the minor is a person described in Section 601, or adjudged to be a ward of the juvenile court solely upon that ground, may be held in a secure facility, other than a facility in which adults are held in secure custody, in any of the following circumstances: (1) For up to 12 hours after having been taken into custody for the purpose of determining if there are any outstanding wants, warrants, or holds against the minor in cases where the arresting officer or probation officer has cause to believe that the wants, warrants, or holds exist. (2) For up to 24 hours after having been taken into custody, in order to locate the minor’s parent or guardian as soon as possible and to arrange the return of the minor to the minor’s parent or guardian, with the exception of an out-of-state runaway who is being held pursuant to the Interstate Compact for Juveniles. (c) Any minor detained in juvenile hall pursuant to subdivision (b) shall not be permitted to come or remain in contact with any person detained on the basis that the minor has been taken into custody upon the ground that the minor is a person described in Section 602 or adjudged to be such or made a ward of the juvenile court upon that ground. (d) Minors detained in juvenile hall pursuant to Sections 601 and 602 may be held in the same facility provided they are not permitted to come or remain in contact within that facility. (e) Every county shall keep a record of each minor detained under subdivision (b), the place and length of time of the detention, and the reasons why the detention was necessary. Every county shall report this information to the Board of State and Community Corrections on a monthly basis, on forms to be provided by that agency. The board shall not disclose the name of the detainee, or any personally identifying information contained in reports sent to the Division of Juvenile Justice under this subdivision. (Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 497, Sec. 289. (AB 991) Effective January 1, 2020.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

facilitysection 601section 602probationagreementresolutioncrimecrisis

Related Statutes

  • § 5154 Mental Health Provider Immunity
  • § 207.5 False Access To Juvenile Facilities
  • § 208 Juvenile Adult Facility Separation
  • § 210.6 Juvenile Restraint Use Rules
  • § 214 Failure To Appear Promise

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Welfare and Institutions Code. Section 207.
View Official Source