MATTER OF TYREEK B.

OPINION OF THE COURT

MARY E. BEDNAR, J. On October 3, 2003 the presentment agency filed a petition charging that the respondent committed an act which if committed by an adult would constitute the crime of promoting contraband in the second degree (Penal Law § 205.20 [1]). A fact-finding hearing commenced before me on October 6, 2003 and was continued on October 8, 2003. Community Associate Mark Sparrow, Johnny Howard, and Probation Officer Tieakia Dennis testified for the presentment agency. At the conclusion of the presentment agency's case the respondent made a prima facie motion to dismiss the petition. I make the following findings of fact and conclusions of law.

Findings of Fact

On August 25, 2003 the respondent made his initial appearance concerning a petition filed against him in Kings County Family Court. He was released on that date with the condition that he attend Kings Alternatives to Detention. (Hereinafter ATD.) Johnny Howard is the director of Kings ATD. She testified that participants in Kings ATD are required to attend the program Monday through Friday, from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. The program is located on the sixth floor of 345 Broadway and consists of offices for the probation staff, a cafeteria, a recreational area, and classrooms for the attendees. Ms. Howard also told the court that the attendees are not locked inside the building, but that they are supposed to remain inside the facility during its hours of operation. Attendees who leave the premises during operating hours are considered absent without leave, and ATD "would request of the court their parole to ATD be terminated forthwith." (Transcript, Oct. 8, 2003, at 7-8, lines 25, 1.) Ms. Howard went on to say that before entering the premises of Kings ATD, each attendee is searched. A security officer has the attendees empty their pockets and then conducts a pat down of each attendee. Mark Sparrow, a community associate with the New York City Department of Probation, testified that on October 2, 2003 at 8:30 A.M. he was conducting searches at the entrance to Kings ATD. He told the court that he recovered a plastic bag from the respondent's pocket, which he believed contained marijuana. On cross-examination Mr. Sparrow was asked several questions about the nature of ATD. During this part of his testimony the following exchange occurred: "Q: [T]he purpose of the program is to provide eight-hour five-days-per-week supervision; isn't that true? "A: Right." (Transcript, Oct. 6, 2003, at 8, lines 13-16.) Probation Officer Tieakia Dennis testified that on October 2, 2003 he was stationed at the entrance to Kings ATD and saw Mr. Sparrow remove a plastic bag from the respondent's person. Mr. Sparrow then gave the bag to Probation Officer Tieakia. The bag and its contents were submitted into evidence, along with a laboratory report showing the contents of the bag to be marijuana.

Conclusions of Law

"In determining a motion to dismiss for failure to establish a prima facie case, the evidence must be accepted as true and given the benefit of every reasonable inference which may be drawn therefrom. The question of credibility is irrelevant, and should not be considered." (Gonzalez v Gonzalez, 262 AD2d 281, 282 [2d Dept 1999] [citations omitted].) Penal Law § 205.20 (1) states in pertinent part, "[a] person is guilty of promoting prison contraband in the second degree when ... he knowingly and unlawfully introduces any contraband into a detention facility ...." The term "detention facility" is defined in Penal Law § 205.00 (1). That provision states in pertinent part: "`Detention facility' means any place for the confinement ... of a person ... charged with being ... a ... juvenile delinquent." (Emphasis supplied.) In oral argument on his motion, the respondent maintained that the applicable statute for defining detention facility is Family Court Act § 301.2 (3), which states:

"`Detention' means the temporary care and maintenance of children away from their own homes, as defined in section five hundred two of the executive law. Detention of a person alleged to be or adjudicated as a juvenile delinquent shall be authorized only in a facility certified by the division for youth as a detention facility pursuant to section five hundred three of the executive law."

The respondent argues that ATD is not a detention facility in accordance with this definition, because it only operates during confinement, or servitude" (Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary 987 [10th ed 1993]). As such, the respondent's release to ATD is inapposite to the argument that ATD is "used for. . . confinement" as defined in Penal Law § 205.00 (1). The characterization of ATD as a nonrestrictive facility also comports with the Brooklyn Family Court Judge's finding that the respondent is not a risk to flee or engage in illegal behavior. Therefore, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the presentment agency the respondent's motion to dismiss the petition is granted. [*] Although confinement is not defined in the Penal Law the dictionary definition of confine, which is "a) to hold within a location b) imprison" (Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary 242 [10th ed 1993]), is unhelpful. Although it would seem that this definition would be inapplicable to a juvenile nonsecure detention facility (see, Family Ct Act § 301.2 [5]), in Matter of Bernard T. (250 AD2d 532 [1998]) the First Department ruled that juvenile nonsecure detention facilities are detention facilities pursuant to the Penal Law. (But see, Matter of Caitlin VV., 262 AD2d 696 [3d Dept 1999].) The major distinction between juvenile nonsecure detention facilities and ATD is that juvenile nonsecure detention facilities require respondents to stay overnight (see, 9 NYCRR 180.9 [c] [5]).