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HomeWelfare and Institutions CodeDiv. 2Pt. 1Ch. 2Art. 1§ 208 Juvenile Adult Facility Separation

§ 208 Juvenile Adult Facility Separation

Welfare and Institutions Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 208 Juvenile Adult Facility Separation

Key Takeaways

  • •Kids under 18 in adult jails or facilities can't be around adult prisoners.
  • •Kids in state hospitals can't be near adults who are there for sex crimes or mental health issues related to sex offenses.
  • •Kids and adults can be together only for supervised activities like therapy or work programs, but they must live separately.
  • •This rule started on January 1, 1998.

Example

A 17-year-old is sent to an adult jail for a crime.

The jail must keep the 17-year-old away from adult prisoners. They can't share cells or hang out together unless it's for something like a supervised class or therapy session.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 208 Juvenile Adult Facility Separation

(a) When any person under 18 years of age is detained in or sentenced to an adult facility, including a jail or other facility established for the purpose of confinement of adults, it shall be unlawful to permit that person to come or remain in contact with adults confined there. (b) A person who is a ward or dependent child of the juvenile court who is detained in or committed to any state hospital or other state facility shall not be permitted to come or remain in contact with any adult person who has been committed to any state hospital or other state facility as a mentally disordered sex offender under the provisions of Article 1 (commencing with Section 6300) of Chapter 2 of Part 2 of Division 6, or with any adult person who has been charged in an accusatory pleading with the commission of any sex offense for which registration of the convicted offender is required under Section 290 of the Penal Code and who has been committed to any state hospital or other state facility pursuant to Section 1026 or 1370 of the Penal Code. (c) As used in this section, “contact” does not include participation in supervised group therapy or other supervised treatment activities, participation in work furlough programs, or participation in hospital recreational activities which are directly supervised by employees of the hospital, so long as living arrangements are strictly segregated and all precautions are taken to prevent unauthorized associations. (d) This section shall be operative January 1, 1998. (Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 18, Sec. 2. (SB 92) Effective May 14, 2021.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

facilitycontacttreatmentregistrationcommissionhospitalcrimesentence

Related Statutes

  • § 607 Juvenile Court Jurisdiction Extension
  • § 6601 Sexually Violent Predator Evaluation
  • § 5154 Mental Health Provider Immunity
  • § 5259.3 Mental Health Release Immunity
  • § 5270.50 Mental Health Release Immunity

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Welfare and Institutions Code. Section 208.
View Official Source