Ricardo M. Time Law and Legal Definition
Ricardo M. time refers to a short term commitment to juvenile hall imposed as a condition of probation in a juvenile delinquency case. The name comes from the case In re Ricardo M., 52 Cal. App. 3d 744 (Cal. App. 2d Dist. 1975), where a the petitioner, a minor sought a writ of habeas corpus after a California juvenile court imposed a condition of probation, after an adjudication of wardship pursuant to Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 602, requiring petitioner to spend not less than five nor more than 20 days in juvenile hall, as determined by the hall's staff. The petition for writ of habeas corpus was denied because the juvenile court was empowered to impose the condition of probation that petitioner minor spend not less than five nor more than 20 days in juvenile hall, as determined by the hall's staff. The court held that the legal test of the validity of the condition was its conformity to the objectives and declared policies of the juvenile court law. Also, the condition was permitted by applicable statute.
