1. Juvenile Justice Chapter 7 Law Enforcement Response to Abused and Neglected Children and Status Offenders

2. Primary Responsibilities of Police Officers Assigned to Abuse or Child Neglect Immediate Protection of Child Immediate Protection of Child May take child into protective custody without warrant or without custody hearing for 48 hours in emergency situations for the following justifications May take child into protective custody without warrant or without custody hearing for 48 hours in emergency situations for the following justifications Maltreatment at home that may cause permanent physical or emotional damage Maltreatment at home that may cause permanent physical or emotional damage Parent’s refusal to provide medical or psychiatric care Parent’s refusal to provide medical or psychiatric care Child is physically or mentally incapable of self- protection Child is physically or mentally incapable of self- protection

3. Primary Responsibilities of Police Officers Assigned to Abuse or Child Neglect Home environment presents an immediate threat Home environment presents an immediate threat Parents will not provide or cannot provide for child’s basic needs Parents will not provide or cannot provide for child’s basic needs Parents abandons the child. Parents abandons the child. Mandated reporters of child abuse/lneglect Mandated reporters of child abuse/lneglect Teachers Teachers Clergy Clergy Hospital Administrators Hospital Administrators Physicians Physicians Psychologists Psychologists All those working in social services All those working in social services

4. Challenges to Investigation Crimes against children are among the hardest to prosecute and obtain convictions Crimes against children are among the hardest to prosecute and obtain convictions Investigations must be conducted in such a way to protect the child Investigations must be conducted in such a way to protect the child Parental involvement Parental involvement Difficulty in interviewing child Difficulty in interviewing child Credibility Concerns Credibility Concerns Need to collaborate with other agencies Need to collaborate with other agencies Investigation Protocol Investigation Protocol

5. Evidence All observations must be recorded in detail All observations must be recorded in detail Includes Includes Surroundings Surroundings Home Conditions Home Conditions Clothing Clothing Bruises Bruises Bodily injuries Bodily injuries Medical examiner report Medical examiner report Photographs best way to document child abuse Photographs best way to document child abuse

6. Improving Law Enforcement’s Response Written policies and procedures on child abuse Written policies and procedures on child abuse Written interagency protocols and interagency teams to handle abuse Written interagency protocols and interagency teams to handle abuse Immediate telephone notification of police by CPS for all sexual abuse cases and serious physical abuse cases Immediate telephone notification of police by CPS for all sexual abuse cases and serious physical abuse cases Initial interviews conduct jointly with CPS and police Initial interviews conduct jointly with CPS and police Police training in identification of abuse Police training in identification of abuse Child abuse specialists, skilled as investigators and interviewing children Child abuse specialists, skilled as investigators and interviewing children Child-friendly interview settings Child-friendly interview settings Limited and selective use of videotaping and anatomically correct dolls by trained individuals Limited and selective use of videotaping and anatomically correct dolls by trained individuals

7. Police Dispositions of Status Offenders Police Discretion affects the disposition of status offenders Police Discretion affects the disposition of status offenders Character Character Age Age Gender Gender Race Race Prior record Prior record Family situation Family situation Youths Attitude Youths Attitude

8. Police Dispositions of Status Offenders Range of Alternatives Police can take Range of Alternatives Police can take Release child, with or without warning Release child, with or without warning Release child and write-up brief contact or field report to juvenile authorities Release child and write-up brief contact or field report to juvenile authorities Release child, but file formal report referring matter to juvenile bureau or intake unit for possible action Release child, but file formal report referring matter to juvenile bureau or intake unit for possible action Turn child over to juvenile authorities Turn child over to juvenile authorities Refer case to court through district or prosecuting office Refer case to court through district or prosecuting office Most common is to release child with or without warning Most common is to release child with or without warning

9. Taken into Custody Parents, school and police are main sources for referral to JJS. Parents, school and police are main sources for referral to JJS. Police most common source of referral Police most common source of referral Some jurisdictions require police to refer youth to juvenile authorities if not released Some jurisdictions require police to refer youth to juvenile authorities if not released Police contact with youth may result from complaint received from observing questionable behavior Police contact with youth may result from complaint received from observing questionable behavior “taken into custody” not arrested is a term used for juveniles when police detain them “taken into custody” not arrested is a term used for juveniles when police detain them

10. Missing Children: Runaway or Abducted? Runaways Runaways Police are challenged whether a child is a runaway or has been abducted due the fact that thousands of children leave home voluntarily Police are challenged whether a child is a runaway or has been abducted due the fact that thousands of children leave home voluntarily 74% of children who are murdered are dead within 3 hours. 74% of children who are murdered are dead within 3 hours. Parental Abductions Parental Abductions Motivated by domestic disputes or custody disputes Motivated by domestic disputes or custody disputes

11. Resources for Missing Children Missing and Exploited Childrens’ Program Missing and Exploited Childrens’ Program Provides direct services through National Center for Missing or Exploited Children Provides direct services through National Center for Missing or Exploited Children Project HOPE provides training and technical assistance to police Project HOPE provides training and technical assistance to police 24-hour Hotline 24-hour Hotline Amber Alert: Brings together law enforcement and public broadcasters to notify public that child is missing Amber Alert: Brings together law enforcement and public broadcasters to notify public that child is missing Criteria for Amber Alert Criteria for Amber Alert Confirmation that child 17 years or younger has been abducted Confirmation that child 17 years or younger has been abducted Law enforcement child is in danger of bodily harm Law enforcement child is in danger of bodily harm Enough evidence of child abductor or vehicle is available Enough evidence of child abductor or vehicle is available

12. Police Disposition of Status Offenders Range of Alternatives Police can take Range of Alternatives Police can take Release child with or without warning without making a report Release child with or without warning without making a report Release child, but write a brief report Release child, but write a brief report Release child, but write formal report referring child to juvenile authorities Release child, but write formal report referring child to juvenile authorities Turn child over to juvenile authorities Turn child over to juvenile authorities Refer child to court through district of prosecuting attorney Refer child to court through district of prosecuting attorney Most common practice is release child with or without warning without making a report Most common practice is release child with or without warning without making a report

13. Juvenile Justice System’s Response Rights of juvenile is always protected Rights of juvenile is always protected Crime by juvenile must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt Crime by juvenile must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt Station Adjustment when police take child to police station then release to guardian Station Adjustment when police take child to police station then release to guardian Juvenile Holdover: Police will detain child until he/she can be released to guardian Juvenile Holdover: Police will detain child until he/she can be released to guardian

14. Juvenile Justice System’s Response Detention:2 Requirements OJJDP Detention:2 Requirements OJJDP Removing juveniles from adult jails Removing juveniles from adult jails Separating juveniles from adult criminals Separating juveniles from adult criminals Other Criteria Other Criteria For the juvenile’s or society’s protection For the juvenile’s or society’s protection Lack of parental supervision Lack of parental supervision Ensure juvenile’s presence in court Ensure juvenile’s presence in court Seriousness of the crime and juvenile’s record Seriousness of the crime and juvenile’s record

15. Disposition of Status Offenders Majority of police dispositions are with status offenders, including: Majority of police dispositions are with status offenders, including: Curfew violations Curfew violations Truancy Truancy Disorderly conduct Disorderly conduct Runaways Runaways Most visible sign of a possible victim in assault or murder OR involvement in crime Most visible sign of a possible victim in assault or murder OR involvement in crime

16. Disposition of Status Offenders Underage drinking Underage drinking Preventative measures Preventative measures Minor Decoy: Use of minors to conduct compliance checks on liquor-licensed stores, target sales to minors Minor Decoy: Use of minors to conduct compliance checks on liquor-licensed stores, target sales to minors Shoulder Tap Program: Places minor outside of liquor stores to ask customers to buy liquor, target adults who furnish alcohol to minors Shoulder Tap Program: Places minor outside of liquor stores to ask customers to buy liquor, target adults who furnish alcohol to minors Cops in Shops: Places officers posing as clerks to look for alcohol violators Cops in Shops: Places officers posing as clerks to look for alcohol violators LEAD: Offers free training for owners and employees of licensed liquor stores LEAD: Offers free training for owners and employees of licensed liquor stores Educational: 45 minute mutimedia interactive program takes children on emotional rollercoaster Educational: 45 minute mutimedia interactive program takes children on emotional rollercoaster

17. Disposition of Status Offenders Drug Use Drug Use DARE: targets elementary children with age appropriate curriculum taught by uniformed police officers DARE: targets elementary children with age appropriate curriculum taught by uniformed police officers Not scientifically proven Not scientifically proven Largest drug prevention in Nation Largest drug prevention in Nation Mentoring: Police mentor high-risk and troubled youth Mentoring: Police mentor high-risk and troubled youth Most effective means available to youth Most effective means available to youth One-to-one support on a weekly basis One-to-one support on a weekly basis

18. Disposition of Status Offenders Flint SRO Program Flint SRO Program Utilizes police officers in schools Utilizes police officers in schools Contributes to safety in schools Contributes to safety in schools Contributes to prevention efforts Contributes to prevention efforts Patrols elementary schools before, during lunch and after school Patrols elementary schools before, during lunch and after school Counseling children and their parents Counseling children and their parents Referrals to social service agencies and drug treatment Referrals to social service agencies and drug treatment Studies show strong positive relationships with school administrators Studies show strong positive relationships with school administrators

19. Disposition of Status Offenders Community relations Community relations Public appearances Public appearances Parent contact Parent contact Individual contact Individual contact Liaison work with other agencies Liaison work with other agencies Recreational Programs Recreational Programs Youth Attitudes toward Police Youth Attitudes toward Police Based on personal Contacts Based on personal Contacts

20. Disposition of Status Offenders Coordination of Community Coordination of Community Stresses coordination of all services for youth Stresses coordination of all services for youth Police need to be aware of resources Police need to be aware of resources CPS CPS Church Youth Programs Church Youth Programs Crisis centers Crisis centers Detox centers Detox centers Drop-in shelters Drop-in shelters Guardian Ad-litem Guardian Ad-litem Human Service Councils Human Service Councils Juvenile Probation Juvenile Probation School resources School resources Support groups Support groups Victim/witness services Victim/witness services YMCA/YWCA YMCA/YWCA Youth Service Bureaus Youth Service Bureaus