Juvenile Justice Legislation Passed by the Georgia General Assembly in 2009
HB 245 would amend O.C.G.A. § 15-11-66 related to the disposition of a delinquent child. Specifically, the bill would reduce the short term program (STP) from 60 days to 30 days. The bill is part of the legislative package of the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) and they estimate the provision will save DJJ $7 million. HB 245 includes a sunset provision to automatically restore the 60 day program in 2011. The Senate passed HB 245 on March 30, 2009. Governor Perdue signed HB 245 on April 21, 2009.
SB 246 would create a new code section, O.C.G.A. § 15-11-51, that would require the juvenile court intake officer to notify victims of serious violent felonies, designated felonies, stalking, and aggravated stalking, when a child accused or adjudicated of committing the enumerated offenses is released from detention. Notification would be required 24 hours in advance of the preadjudication release of the child, and 48 hours in advance of the post adjudication release of the child, and only if the victim requests such notice. SB 246 was adopted by the House on April1, 2009, and was agreed to by the Senate on April 3, 2009. The bill awaits the Governor's signature.
For a more comprehensive update of Georgia child-related legislation passed in 2009, see the Barton Clinic's legislative wrapup at http://childwelfare.net/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/archive/jj1/20090509171348/.
