NCJ Number
93431
Date Published
1983
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This document outlines procedures for the handling and processing of all juvenile offenders and victims by officers in the Beaufort Police Department (South Carolina). Juveniles are defined as persons under 17.
Abstract
The order provides a brief history of the Departments's Juvenile Justice and Diversion Unit, describes its mission, and identifies its duties. The latter include interviewing all juvenile offenders and victims; investigating all offenses involving juveniles; determining diversion versus referral to Family Court; investigating cases of child abuse and neglect; preparing Uniform Crime Report data on missing and runaway juveniles; working with school officials; and conducting inservice training, education, and juvenile crime prevention programs. The document defines and details juvenile criminal and status offenses and the rights of juveniles. It then details the juvenile intake procedure and presents guidelines regarding confidentiality, interviews, and interrogations. Criteria governing the determination of diversion versus court referral are described, as are procedures for incarcerating or detaining juveniles and referring cases to court. Other guidelines address child abuse and neglect cases including standard emergency procedures, school-related incidents, bomb threats in school, juvenile runaways, truancy, drug and alcohol-related incidents, and missing or kidnapped juveniles. The report concludes with a conduct and dress code for law enforcement officers assigned to the juvenile unit, police forms used in juvenile cases are appended.