Court Didn't Have To Release Salem Teen Because Of Coronavirus

SALEM, MA —A juvenile court judge did not have to release a teenager deemed dangerous and awaiting trial on gun charges on $500 last month, according to a ruling by the state's highest court.

In its ruling Monday, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court said that, taken alone, trial delays caused by the coronavirus crisis are not enough of a reason to release a person on bail. Monday's ruling offered more guidance on the court's April ruling, which said people charged with most crimes should be released without bail "unless an unreasonable danger to the community would result, or the individual presents a very high risk of flight."

But the teen in the Salem case had been deemed dangerous when he was released to live with his grandparents in Beverly. As a condition of his bail, he was ordered to wear a location monitoring bracelet. That prompted the Essex County District Attorney's office to appeal the ruling.

Lawyers for the juvenile argued the delays the coronavirus crisis is causing in the court system will result in him being held past the six-month limit. Trials right now are scheduled to resume this fall. The high court's ruling interpreted the coronavirus crisis delays being similar to other delays which may cause a defendant awaiting trial to be held longer than six months, but also left open the door for revisiting the matter.