CA- California OKs changes for juvenile parole violators

6-4-2008 California:

The state has agreed to provide attorneys and timely hearings for juveniles accused of violating parole, as part of a settlement today of a federal class-action lawsuit brought by youths who said prison officials infringed on their constitutional rights.

The lawsuit, filed two years ago by former wards of the state's Division of Juvenile Justice, alleged that the state was violating youths' rights to due process by detaining them for months without legal counsel or a hearing on the charges, and by failing to offer assistance for those who are disabled as required by federal law.

In some cases, youths would be held for so-called technical violations of the terms of their release, such as consuming alcohol or traffic offenses.

Under the agreement, which must be approved by U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton, the state has until December to make the changes, which would introduce strict timelines for hearings, allow youths to present evidence on their behalf and otherwise formalize the procedures for parole revocations initiated by the state.

In a previous legal settlement, the state agreed to make similar to the parole process for adults accused of violating their terms of their release from prison. ..News Source.. by Michael Rothfeld, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer