Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy (NVCJA) Practice Exam

What must happen for an officer to take a juvenile into custody for a felony charge?

1. The officer must have a warrant

2. A detention order must be present

3. They should be accompanied by an adult

4. There must be a prior conviction

The correct answer is: A detention order must be present

In order for an officer to take a juvenile into custody for a felony charge, a detention order must be present. This is a legal document that authorizes law enforcement to detain a juvenile who is accused of committing a felony. The purpose of a detention order is to ensure that the juvenile's rights are upheld while also balancing the need for public safety. In many jurisdictions, the juvenile justice system has specific protocols that must be followed when dealing with minors. A detention order typically involves a court's determination that there is sufficient reason to detain the juvenile, based on the severity of the alleged crime, flight risk, and welfare considerations. This safeguard ensures that juveniles are not taken into custody arbitrarily, but rather under a structured legal framework that considers their unique circumstances. While a warrant might be necessary in some situations for adults, specifically for felonies, the same standard does not always apply to juveniles. Accompanying an adult is not a requirement for custody, and having a prior conviction is not necessary for taking a juvenile into custody for a new charge. The focus in these scenarios is on the current situation and the necessity of the detention order based on the alleged felony charge.