Chief Keef belongs behind bars — not because he's a hardened criminal, but for his own safety. That's the argument being made by prosecutors in Chicago, who say the 17-year-old rapper could be in danger of being retaliated against for the recent shooting death of his 18-year-old rival Lil JoJo.

Keef isn't suspected of being involved with JoJo's murder, but Chicago police and lawyers for the Cook County Attorney's office believe that his association with the slain rapper's foes could make him a target, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. To keep him out of harm's way and to send a message to his peers, prosecutors asked Judge Carl Anthony Walker to place Keef, born Keith Cozart, in a juvenile detention facility on the grounds of alleged probation violations.

Judge Walker said he wouldn't detain Keef without a hearing, but did say that it's his belief that the young rapper should at least be placed under house arrest.

"I really believe this minor should be placed on electronic home monitoring," he said yesterday.

Keef, who has been living in California recording music since the JoJo situation detonated in early September, was present in a Chicago court while the prosecutors made their arguments. He took to Twitter afterward to express his disagreement with the proceedings.

“Prosecutors want me back in jail?! I aint going!!!! ... IM out here tryin to get this money & they wanna stop me from shining!!!” he wrote.

The "I Don't Like" rapper, who is on probation and was previously under house arrest for pointing a gun at a police officer, is accused of having violated his probation by appearing with guns in a now-infamous video for Pitchfork.com. Prosecutors also say he is behind schedule in getting his GED, and continues to associate with the Chicago street gang the Black Disciples. A follow-up hearing is scheduled for November 20.

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(Photo: Courtesy Glory Boy Entertainment)