Policy
Juveniles who do not meet JDC booking criteria (refer to P&P 8-301 JDC Booking Criteria) and juveniles in need of medical care may be released to a parent/legal guardian after medical treatment if:
- The juvenile is clear of warrants/Juvenile Apprehend & Detain order
- The juvenile can be properly identified.
- The juvenile is not a danger to himself/herself or others.
- Arresting officers obtain supervisor approval
- Arresting officers notify the appropriate investigative unit, if applicable/when possible.
Officers shall complete a CAPRS report indicating that the juvenile was brought to HCMC (or other area hospital) for medical evaluation and that authorization was given to the medical facility to release the juvenile to a parent/legal guardian after completion of treatment. Officers are not required to stay with the juvenile until a parent/legal guardian arrives.
If the juvenile is transported to the Juvenile Supervision Center (JSC) following medical evaluation or treatment, appropriate me109dical release forms (provided by the hospital) must accompany the juvenile when he/she is admitted to JSC.
Should officers become aware of underlying circumstances which necessitate placing the juvenile on a 72-Hour Health and Welfare Hold, officers shall place the hold in accordance with P&P 8-205 Health and Welfare Holds – Juveniles.
In all cases, officers shall make a reasonable effort to have all gross misdemeanor and felony offenders photographed and fingerprinted (refer to P&P 8-109 Fingerprinting and Photographing of Juveniles).
Definitions
Refer to the Commonly Used Terms page for general definitions.
- Juvenile: An individual who is under the age of eighteen (18) years.
- Parent/Legal Guardian: "Parent" means the birth or adoptive mother or father of a child and does not apply to a person whose parental rights have been terminated in relation to the child. A legal "guardian" is a person who has been appointed by a judge or social services agency, to take care of a minor child (to include foster parents).