Under what condition can a juvenile be taken into custody?

In determining when a juvenile can be taken into custody, it is essential to consider the role of the intake worker. An intake worker is a designated official who evaluates the circumstances surrounding a juvenile’s situation, which includes considering whether to hold the juvenile in custody. This decision is based on various factors, including the nature of the offense, the juvenile's behavior, and any potential risk they may pose to themselves or others.

While parental requests or the observation of suspicious behavior by a police officer can influence the situation, the authority to formally take a juvenile into custody lies significantly with the intake worker. Their role is to assess the situation more deeply, often requiring a thoughtful approach to ensure that the juvenile's rights are respected and that appropriate actions are taken based on the law. Furthermore, the age of the juvenile does play a role in determining jurisdiction and applicable laws but is not itself a condition for taking a juvenile into custody.