Custody prior to appearance before magistrate judge

Whenever a juvenile is taken into custody for an alleged act of juvenile delinquency, the arresting officer shall immediately advise such juvenile of his legal rights, in language comprehensive to a juvenile, and shall immediately notify the Attorney General and the juvenile’s parents, guardian, or custodian of such custody. The arresting officer shall also notify the parents, guardian, or custodian of the rights of the juvenile and of the nature of the alleged offense.

The juvenile shall be taken before a magistrate judge forthwith. In no event shall the juvenile be detained for longer than a reasonable period of time before being brought before a magistrate judge.

( June 25, 1948, ch. 645 , 62 Stat. 857 ; Pub. L. 93–415, title V, § 503 , Sept. 7, 1974 , 88 Stat. 1135 ; Pub. L. 101–650, title III, § 321 , Dec. 1, 1990 , 104 Stat. 5117 .)