If a defendant under 17 fails to appear, the court should use all available procedures under Chapter 45/45A, including a nonsecure custody warrant to obtain the defendant's appearance?

• A. Not specified
• B. Only if the judge approves
• C. True
• D. Not applicable

Answer: (C)

When a defendant under 17 fails to appear, the court has authority to compel that appearance using the full set of tools in Chapters 45 and 45A. This includes issuing a nonsecure custody warrant to bring the juvenile to court. The aim is to secure the appearance while protecting the juvenile’s safety and rights, rather than automatically relying on detention in a secure facility. A nonsecure custody warrant allows law enforcement to take the juvenile into custody temporarily and transport them to court without placing them in a secure, long-term detention setting. The statute contemplates using all available procedures to obtain the appearance, so the court can proceed with enforcement steps like this without requiring additional, case-by-case approvals. Therefore, the correct approach is to use the available procedures, including a nonsecure custody warrant, to obtain the defendant’s appearance.