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In these
companion cases, the Connecticut Supreme Court upheld the trial
court's decision dismissing DCF's motions to extend the juvenile's
commitments for an additional period of time beyond the 18 months
for which they were initially committed. The court held that the
failure of the juvenile court, which made the initial commitment,
to advise the juveniles, at the time their nolo contendre pleas
were accepted, that the commitments could be extended beyond the
time period stated in the plea agreement, prevented the juveniles
from entering a knowing and voluntary plea. Since a nolo plea involves
the waiver of several fundamental rights, if it is not entered voluntarily
and knowingly, it is a violation of the youth's due process rights.
In the
latter part of its decision, the Court discusses the extent to which
due process safeguards are applicable in juvenile court.
(RB)
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