The issue of detaining 10-17 year olds in San Juan, La Union is governed by Republic Act No. 9344 (Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006), as amended by RA 10630, which strictly prohibits the imprisonment of children in jails. Under this law, the age of criminal responsibility is set at 15; those below this age or above 15 but acting without discernment are exempt from criminal liability and must be referred to intervention programs rather than detained. For 15-17 year olds found to have acted with discernment, diversion programs—either community-based or court-led—are prioritized, with placement in specialized rehabilitation centers like Bahay Pag-asa reserved only for specific cases instead of adult facilities. While national guidelines provide clear safeguards, implementation gaps have been noted across the Philippines, often linked to limited awareness, case processing delays, and resource constraints for alternative support systems, with most affected youth coming from marginal