Juvenile Justice
Chapter 7
Law Enforcement Response to Abused
and Neglected Children and Status
Offenders
Primary Responsibilities of Police Officers
Assigned to Abuse or Child Neglect
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
Maltreatment at home that may cause permanent
physical or emotional damage
Parent’s refusal to provide medical or psychiatric
care
Child is physically or mentally incapable of self-
protection
Primary Responsibilities of Police Officers
Assigned to Abuse or Child Neglect
Home environment presents an immediate threat
Parents will not provide or cannot provide for child’s basic
needs
Parents abandons the child.
Mandated reporters of child abuse/lneglect
Teachers
Clergy
Hospital Administrators
Physicians
Psychologists
All those working in social services
Challenges to Investigation
Crimes against children are among the hardest
to prosecute and obtain convictions
Investigations must be conducted in such a way
to protect the child
Parental involvement
Difficulty in interviewing child
Credibility Concerns
Need to collaborate with other agencies
Investigation Protocol
Evidence
All observations must be recorded in detail
Includes
Surroundings
Home Conditions
Clothing
Bruises
Bodily injuries
Medical examiner report
Photographs best way to document child abuse
Improving Law Enforcement’s
Response
Written policies and procedures on child 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
Initial interviews conduct jointly with CPS and police
Police training in identification of abuse
Child abuse specialists, skilled as investigators and
interviewing children
Child-friendly interview settings
Limited and selective use of videotaping and
anatomically correct dolls by trained individuals
Police Dispositions of Status
Offenders
Police Discretion affects the disposition of
status offenders
Character
Age
Gender
Race
Prior record
Family situation
Youths Attitude
Police Dispositions of Status
Offenders
Range of Alternatives Police can take
Release child, with or without warning
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
Turn child over to juvenile authorities
Refer case to court through district or prosecuting
office
Most common is to release child with or without
warning
Taken into Custody
Parents, school and police are main
sources for referral to JJS.
Police most common source of referral
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
“taken into custody” not arrested is a term
used for juveniles when police detain them
Missing Children: Runaway or
Abducted?
Runaways
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.
Parental Abductions
Motivated by domestic disputes or custody
disputes
Resources for Missing Children
Missing and Exploited Childrens’ Program
Provides direct services through National Center for Missing or
Exploited Children
Project HOPE provides training and technical assistance to police
24-hour Hotline
Amber Alert: Brings together law enforcement and public
broadcasters to notify public that child is missing
Criteria for Amber Alert
Confirmation that child 17 years or younger has been abducted
Law enforcement child is in danger of bodily harm
Enough evidence of child abductor or vehicle is available
Police Disposition of Status
Offenders
Range of Alternatives Police can take
Release child with or without warning without making
a report
Release child, but write a brief report
Release child, but write formal report referring child
to juvenile authorities
Turn child over to juvenile authorities
Refer child to court through district of prosecuting
attorney
Most common practice is release child with or
without warning without making a report
Juvenile Justice System’s
Response
Rights of juvenile is always protected
Crime by juvenile must be proved beyond
a reasonable doubt
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 Justice System’s
Response
Detention:2 Requirements OJJDP
Removing juveniles from adult jails
Separating juveniles from adult criminals
Other Criteria
For the juvenile’s or society’s protection
Lack of parental supervision
Ensure juvenile’s presence in court
Seriousness of the crime and juvenile’s record
Disposition of Status Offenders
Majority of police dispositions are with
status offenders, including:
Curfew violations
Truancy
Disorderly conduct
Runaways
Most visible sign of a possible victim in assault or
murder OR involvement in crime
Disposition of Status Offenders
Underage drinking
Preventative measures
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
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
Educational: 45 minute mutimedia interactive program takes
children on emotional rollercoaster
Disposition of Status Offenders
Drug Use
DARE: targets elementary children with age
appropriate curriculum taught by uniformed
police officers
Not scientifically proven
Largest drug prevention in Nation
Mentoring: Police mentor high-risk and
troubled youth
Most effective means available to youth
One-to-one support on a weekly basis
Disposition of Status Offenders
Flint SRO Program
Utilizes police officers in schools
Contributes to safety in schools
Contributes to prevention efforts
Patrols elementary schools before, during lunch and
after school
Counseling children and their parents
Referrals to social service agencies and drug
treatment
Studies show strong positive relationships with school
administrators
Disposition of Status Offenders
Community relations
Public appearances
Parent contact
Individual contact
Liaison work with other agencies
Recreational Programs
Youth Attitudes toward Police
Based on personal Contacts
Disposition of Status Offenders
Coordination of Community
Stresses coordination of all services for youth
Police need to be aware of resources
CPS
Church Youth Programs
Crisis centers
Detox centers
Drop-in shelters
Guardian Ad-litem
Human Service Councils
Juvenile Probation
School resources
Support groups
Victim/witness services
YMCA/YWCA
Youth Service Bureaus