17-year-old boy held in S.F. adult jail for almost 3 weeks

"A 17-year-old was incarcerated in San Francisco County Jail for almost three weeks after he allegedly gave a false name and birthday to law enforcement. The city took 20 days to verify that the defendant is a minor despite being alerted to the possibility almost immediately after the boy's arrest. In August, the defendant - whom Mission Local is not naming because he is a minor - was booked into jail for allegedly transporting and possessing a controlled substance for sale."

"During the 20 days between his arrest and the judge's decision, the defendant was kept separated from other inmates in a section of the jail at 425 Seventh St. for people with special needs, according to his father and emails reviewed by Mission Local. He was kept there while the city reviewed evidence that he was a minor. Suspects under 18 years old in California are not allowed to be detained in jails for adults."

"Instead, minors in San Francisco must be held at the Juvenile Justice Hall. This defendant was likely held in a special unit because the Sheriff's Department could neither allow him to mix with adults nor confirm his age and move him to Juvenile Hall, attorneys familiar with the case said. That specialized unit, C Pod, includes psychiatric housing and "safety cells," which are cells for people who require regular safety checks."

A 17-year-old was booked in August on alleged narcotics sales charges and initially listed as 20 or 21 in booking logs. Law enforcement and the district attorney relied on the false name and birthdate provided at arrest. San Francisco took 20 days to confirm the defendant's true minor status despite early alerts. During that period the minor was held apart from other inmates in a special-needs unit, C Pod, which contains psychiatric housing and safety cells. California law prohibits detaining suspects under 18 in adult jails; minors must be held at Juvenile Justice Hall.

Read at Mission Local