THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
STATE HOUSE, BOSTON 02133

By His Excellency

MICHAEL S. DUKAKIS
GOVERNOR OF MASSACHUSETTS

EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 280

ALTERNATIVES TO JUVENILE LOCK-UP DETENTION

	WHEREAS, the Commonwealth has historically acknowledged that
juvenile offenders should be treated separately from adult of-
fenders; and

	WHEREAS, it is the policy of the Commonwealth that juveniles
should not be detained in police lock-ups for a status offense; and
that juveniles should not be detained in a police lock-up for more
than six hours for an alleged delinquency offense; and

	WHEREAS, a balance must be struck between the statutory ob-
jective of not holding juveniles in jail cells or lock-up areas
beyond the six hour temporary holding period permitted for alleged
delinquent offenders and not allowing juveniles in temporary law en-
forcement custody to disrupt police operations or to leave a police,
sheriff or municipal facility without authorization; and

	WHEREAS, law enforcement personnel must be provided with a
list of emergency services that will be available on a local and
statewide basis;

	NOW, THEREFORE, I Michael S. Dukakis, Governor of the Com-
monwealth, by virtue of the authority vested in me as supreme execu-
tive magistrate, do hereby order that all necessary steps be taken
to ensure that juveniles are appropriately detained in non-secure
custody by local police.  These steps include:

	Section 1.  The Massachusetts Committee on criminal Justice
is hereby directed to spend, the majority of its Juvenile Justice
and Delinquency Prevention Act grant money towards alternatives to
police lock-up detention.

	Section 2.  The Massachusetts Committee on Criminal Justice
will award a grant to the Executive Office of Human Services to fund
four to five regional coordinators throughout the state.  The coor-
dinators will be hired, at the minimum, for one year to eighteen
months as part of an effort to create a strong network between po-
lice departments and shelter care providers.  The network will pro-
vide police with alternatives to juvenile lock-up detention.

	Section 3.  The Massachusetts Committee on Criminal Justice
shall sponsor a statewide conference in April 1989 for police 
chiefs, social service providers and other professionals who work
with status offenders and juvenile delinquents.  The aim of the con-
ference is to provide both groups with information concerning the
appropriate placement of status offenders.

	Section 4.  As part of the planning for the conference, a
comprehensive manual will be developed which will include a uniform
assessment mechanism designed to provide police, on a twenty-four
basis, with knowledgeable assistance in determining the appropriate
courses of action in a particular case.  This mechanism will include
a written checklist for police to consult in initially processing a
runaway.  A listing of specifically trained persons who have indi-
cated their willingness to assist in the process and who will be
available to police in order to provide an informed assessment of
the runaway will also be included.

	Section 5.  The Massachusetts Committee on Criminal Justice
and Executive Office of Human Services are hereby directed to col-
laborate on the drafting of legislation to address the issue of
alternatives to lock-ups so that Massachusetts can comply with Sec-
tion 223 (a) (14) of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Act.  Legislation will be filed by April 1, 1989.

	Section 6.  The Executive Office of Public Safety will play
an integral role in supporting, promoting and assisting local law
enforcement officials in complying with all programs directed
towards achieving compliance with section 223 (a) (14) of the Juve-
nile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston
this 20th day of January 
in the year of our Lord one thousand
nine hundred and eighty-nine, and of
the Independence of the United States
of America two hundred and thirteen.

Michael S. Dukakis
Governor
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Michael Joseph Connolly
Secretary of the Commonwealth

GOD SAVE THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS