POUGHKEEPSIE – Two teens, ages 16 and 17, were sent to a secure detention facility for juveniles less than 24 hours after they were caught with loaded guns and released on appearance tickets at their arraignment.
Three teens, ages 15, 16, and 17 were taken into custody by City of Poughkeepsie police on Wednesday night after the three were found in possession of loaded handguns. The original arrest story can be found here.
The 15-year-old was sent to the Woodfield Secure Detention Facility in Valhalla after being arraigned on a warrant from family court. He will face weapons charges for Wednesday’s incident at a later date.
The 16 and 17-year-olds were arraigned on gun charges around 1:00 a.m. on Thursday. The two were released to their parents with appearance tickets because there were no available beds in secure detention facilities for juveniles. The “Raise the Age” portion of the 2019 bail reform laws requires that juveniles cannot be housed in facilities that house adult criminals, with certain exceptions.
There are six detention facilities north of NYC that are used by every county north of the city. In total, there are 164 beds at the six facilities that cover the 55 counties.
The account of their release and the outcry over the detention requirements can be found here.
On Thursday, the two teens appeared before Dutchess County Court Judge Edward McLoughlin who presides over the Youth Court. Two beds were located at state facilities and McLoughlin ordered the two to be transported to the facility immediately. The two will remain in detention as their cases proceed through the court system.
