California AB-1214 Juvenile Proceedings: Competency

The law was signed on September 30, 2018. It sets a limit on how long youth found mentally unfit by the juvenile court can be kept in juvenile halls. If a youth is found incompetent, and the petition contains only misdemeanor offenses then the petition must be dismissed. When a youth is found incompetent, the court will be required to refer the youth to services designed to help the youth attain competency unless the court finds that competency cannot be achieved within the foreseeable future. The bill also authorizes the court to refer the minor to treatment services to assist . . .