6.290 - Juvenile Investigations and Arrests
Effective Date: 01/01/19
6.290 – POL
This policy applies to the investigations and arrests of juveniles.
1. Definitions
Juvenile: someone under 18 years of age not previously transferred to the jurisdiction of adult court.
Guardian: A person designated by the court as being responsible for the child in the same manner as a parent (e.g. foster parent).
When a particular juvenile’s jurisdiction has been transferred from juvenile court to adult court, the juvenile is considered to have been declined.
2. Officers Will Exercise Reasonable Discretion when Determining the Disposition of Juveniles
When choosing between different alternatives, officers will consider the following factors:
- The nature of the offense
- The age and circumstance of the offender
- The mental health of the offender
- The prior record of the offender
- The availability of community-based rehabilitation programs
- The likelihood that the choice will satisfactorily resolve the problem
3. Officers Will Have Juveniles Transported to Children’s Hospital for Involuntary Commitments
When an officer determines that a juvenile meets the criteria for an involuntary commitment, the juvenile will be sent to Children’s Hospital.
4. Officers Will Notify Parents of Arrest as soon as Possible
Officers will make reasonable attempts to contact the parents/guardians of arrested juveniles to advise them of the juvenile’s status and location. This will be documented in the Report.
- Officers will document the name, date of birth, address and telephone number of the parent/guardian contacted.
5. Officers Will Use the Juvenile Miranda Language (See: 6.150 – Advising Persons of Right to Counsel and Miranda)
When taking a written suspect statement, officers will use the Explanation of Rights (Form 9.28.1).
- In order to ensure that rights are understood, an officer may ask a juvenile to explain each warning in his or her own words.
6. Parents Must be Present for Juveniles Under 12 to Waive Their Rights
A parent or guardian will be present and must waive the rights of a juvenile under the age of 12.
7. Patrol Officers Will Obtain Statements for Juvenile Criminal Cases
- Officer statements
- Victim statements
- Witness statements
If the officer cannot obtain the above statements, the reason will be documented in the Report narrative.
8. SPD Employees May Share Juvenile Records with Outside Juvenile Justice Agencies that are Actively Investigating the Juvenile
The Department will not release juvenile records to outside agencies for any purpose other than assistance with an active investigation.
- Per RCW 13.50.010(1)(a), “juvenile justice or care agency” means any of the following: police, diversion units, court, prosecuting attorney, defense attorney, detention center, attorney general, the Legislative Children’s Oversight Committee, the Office of the Family and Children’s Ombudsman, the Department of Social and Health Services and its contracting agencies, schools, persons or public or private agencies having children committed to their custody, and any placement oversight committee created under RCW 72.05.415.