Intake Procedures Intake is the first step in the processing of juveniles. At this time, a decision is made whether a juvenile will be held in custody or released. The chief judge in each judicial district appoints the intake screener. The screener then decides if the juvenile should be released to a parent, guardian, or other legal custodian, or admitted to a detention, temporary holding, or shelter facility pending notification to the court and a detention hearing. However, the Children's Code allows for a mandatory felony hold at the request of a law enforcement agency.
Detention is the temporary care of a juvenile in a physically restrictive facility.
A juvenile may be held here if the intake screener determines that the juvenile's immediate welfare or the protection of the community requires physical restriction. A juvenile may also be admitted to a detention facility if a law enforcement agency requests that the juvenile be detained because the alleged act would constitute a felony if committed by an adult. This area is separated by sight and sound from any area which houses adult offenders. Law enforcement and screeners must follow detention criteria. A staff secure facility, in which egress from the facility is controlled by staff rather than architectural barriers is a viable option.