Changes to Juvenile Detention Sentencing and Age Requirements (SB 918)

Original title: Juvenile Justice

March 13, 2026

juvenile justice criminal law youth detention sentencing

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The Frame

What this does

The bill changes the sentencing structure for youth committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice and expands the population eligible for maximum-risk facilities to include children as young as 10.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Department of Juvenile Justice

The agency must implement new sentencing guidelines and manage younger populations in maximum-risk facilities.

Juvenile offenders

Children adjudicated for offenses face new sentencing requirements and potential placement in maximum-risk facilities starting at age 10.

What changed

Last recorded activity March 13, 2026.

What's next

Introduced.

Summary

This bill changes how long youth are held in juvenile detention programs and lowers the age at which children can be sent to . It requires courts to set specific minimum timeframes for detention rather than using s.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does this change the length of time a child spends in a program?

Instead of an , the court must now set a specific minimum amount of time the child must serve.

What is the new minimum age for being sent to a maximum-risk facility?

Children as young as 10 years old can now be committed to if they are for specified offenses.

Why It Matters

The bill changes the sentencing structure for youth committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice and expands the population eligible for maximum-risk facilities to include children as young as 10.