Revised Laws of Saint Lucia (2021)

13.   Release of child into care of parent or appropriate adult before initial inquiry

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    (1)   Subject to section 14, a police officer shall release a child who is in detention in police custody into the care of the parent or an appropriate adult, before the child appears at the initial inquiry unless —

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      (a)     exceptional circumstances, as may be prescribed, warrant detention;

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      (b)     the parent of the child or an appropriate adult cannot be located or is not available and all reasonable efforts have been made to locate the parent or appropriate adult; or

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      (c)     there is a substantial risk that the child may be a danger to any other person or to himself or herself.

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    (2)   Subject to subsection (3), a police officer may, in consultation with the Director of Public Prosecutions, release into the care of a parent or an appropriate adult a child who —

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      (a)     is accused of an offence under Schedule 1 but has not been released under subsection (1); or

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      (b)     is in detention in police custody and who is accused of an offence under Schedule 2.

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    (3)   A child may be released under subsection (2) on condition that he or she —

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      (a)     appears at a specified place and time for assessment;

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      (b)     does not interfere with a witness, tamper with evidence or associate with a person or group of specified people;

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      (c)     resides at a particular address; and

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      (d)     complies with terms that the Court or Director of Prosecutions' orders.