TITLE 6: CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
DIVISION 5: JUVENILE JUSTICE
§ 5155. Compensation – Amount – Crediting Account of Juvenile – Juveniles not Employees – Accountability of Other Than Restitution Funds. Each juvenile who is engaged in productive work for compensation while under the jurisdiction and in the custody of DYS, or while participating in any DYS approved work program, shall have the compensation accounted for as follows: (a) Upon receiving any funds credited to a juvenile the receiving official shall deposit the funds in a savings account established by the juvenile's guardian in the name of the juvenile at an FDIC insured bank, or another financial institution requested in writing by the juvenile's guardian, and managed by the DYS and the juvenile for the purpose set forth herein. The detention facility shall not physically manage or store any funds belonging to any juvenile at the facility. (b) Funds the juvenile is entitled to receive while in the custody of the DYS Juvenile Detention Facility will be strictly money earned through employment which will be deposited in the juveniles savings account with the supervision of the juvenile's assigned social worker and acknowledged by the supervisor of the facility where the juvenile is lodged. Acceptable purposes include: (1) To pay any court ordered fines or restitution. No more than 50% of a juvenile's earnings under this section may be used for this purpose, unless the juvenile and the juvenile's guardian request a higher percentage, in writing; (2) To purchase items approved by the supervisor of any placement facility for the benefit of the juvenile; and (3) Through the request of the juvenile a withdrawal from his/her savings account may be permitted for the purpose of providing financial assistance to the family. This request is subject to prior approval by the juvenile's assigned social worker. (c) No juvenile compensated under this chapter shall be considered an employee of the Commonwealth or DYS, nor shall any juvenile come within any of the provisions of the worker's compensation law, or be entitled to any benefits thereunder whether on behalf of himself or any other person. Source: PL 16-47, § 34, modified. Commission Comment: The Commission changed the order of this section from its original placement in PL 16-47 and changed “act” to “chapter” pursuant to 1 CMC § 3806(b) and (d). For information regarding the transfer of the Juvenile Detention Unit from DYS to the Department of Corrections and the responsibilities of DYS, see Commission Comment to 6 CMC §§ 5111-12.