Maryland Juvenile Services Section 2-135

      (a)      The Department shall adopt regulations that provide standards for juvenile detention facilities operated by the Department and private agencies under contract with the Department.

      (b)      The standards shall reflect the central purposes of juvenile detention, which are to:

            (1)      Protect the public;

            (2)      Provide a safe, humane, and caring environment for children; and

            (3)      Provide access to required services for children.

      (c)      The standards shall be consistent with this article and Title 3, Subtitle 8A of the Courts Article.

      (d)      The standards shall include provisions establishing:

            (1)      A policy that eliminates the unnecessary use of detention and places a priority on the use of diversion and appropriate nonsecure alternatives;

            (2)      Criteria for the placement of a child in a particular juvenile detention facility;

            (3)      Population limits for each juvenile detention facility that may not be exceeded except in emergency circumstances during which time staffing ratios and levels of services shall be maintained;

            (4)      Specifications for the architectural structure of a juvenile detention facility;

            (5)      Staff qualifications, training, including training in recognizing and reporting child abuse and neglect, and the ratio of staff to children in a juvenile detention facility;

            (6)      The rights of children in a juvenile detention facility, including the right to privacy, visitors, telephone use, and mail delivery;

            (7)      Prohibitions against the use of excessive force against a child; and

            (8)      Internal auditing and monitoring of programs and facilities in the Juvenile Justice System.