iv33_safetyuncooperativeclienteleandthreats

Policy Number: IV33 Issued: 12/86 Revised: 10/01 Revised: 12/12 1 SAFETY, UNCOOPERATIVE CL IENTELE, AND THREATS AUTHORITY Related Probation Officer Procedures: E2 Search and Seizure E3 Arrest of Juve niles and Adults F2 Continuum of Force F8 Arming: Use of Firearms Related Probation Officer Policies: IV30 Injury, Occupational Expo sure, and Medical Response SAFETY/PROBATION DIVISIONS Staff safety is the prio rity and it should be clearly understo od that employees are not expected, during the performance of their duties, to place themselves in an y situation that presents an unreasonable degree of peril to the lives or health of themselves or other persons. Employees shall endeavor to complete their normal work assignm ents utilizing methods designed to minimize, avoid, or reduce physical danger to themselves and their property, and to the safety and property of others. Employees are encouraged to seek assistance from other em ployees or outside agencies, as appropriate, while performing job tasks that ma y be risky. Employees must plan and apply reasonable care and caution in all potentially da ngerous situations, and use good judgment in balancing the requirements of job performance and safety issues. In the office and/or the community , employees are not, under any circumstances, expected to place themselves in danger or risk their lives or those of other persons in order to effect an arrest or halt an illegal activity. When confronted, threatened, or assaul ted, employees shall separate themselves from this type of situation, if possible. As soon as the immediate danger is no longer present, employees are to seek law enforcement assistance, as appr opriate, and provide all pertinent information to aid in the appreh ension of the offender(s). SAFETY/JDF DIVISIONS Staff safety is the priority, and employees sh all endeavor to comple te their normal work assignments utilizing method s designed to minimize, avoid or re duce physical danger to themselves and others, their property, and County property. However, during the performance of their duties, Juvenile Detention Facili ty (JDF) staff face dangerous and ri sky situations regularly, and must address these situations as traine d and as appropriate. Employees must plan and apply reasonable care and caution in all potentia lly dangerous and risky situatio ns, and use good judgment in balancing the requirements of job performance, job duties, and safety issues. UNCOOPERATIVE CLIEN TELE ON THE PHONE OR IN THE LOBBY On occasion, offenders or others related to an offe nder’s case come in to the Probation Department or the lobby of a JDF, or telephon e a probation officer or JDF staff, and vent anger. At times, an offender or another person related to an offender ’s case becomes irrational and uncooperative. In the Probation Divi sions, it is the responsibility of the proba tion officer assigned to the offender’s case to deal with these situations di rectly, not the responsibility of the clerical reception staff. If the assigned probation officer is not available, cleric al reception staff shall first notify the “officer of the day.” If the “officer of the day” is unav ailable, a Senior Deputy Probation Officer (SrDPO) Policy Number: IV33 2 in the assigned probation officer’s unit shall be contacted. If the SrDPO is unavailable, the assigned probation officer’s supervis or or any other available superv isor shall be notified. In the JDF Divisions, the employee who encounters the uncooperative person must address the situation appropriately, including referring the person to th e appropriate Probation Division or contacting the shift supervisor. When an irate, upset, or uncooper ative person enters any lobby, or telephones the office or the JDF, the clerical reception staff shall notify the assigned probation officer or his/her designee, or the shift supervisor, as indicated above. Clerical reception staff shall not attempt to talk to an irate person beyond stating, “Wait one moment, please.” The notified probation offi cer or shift supervisor must then ascertain how to deal with the situation, and shall not place him/herself or others in dange r, as indicated above. If the notified probation officer or JDF staff member handling the situation arrives to talk to an irate, upset, or uncooperative person in the lobby, clerical reception staff shal l remove themselves from the reception area, if applicable. All other staff are to remain as calm as possible at their workstations. In the Probation Divisions, prior to attempting to enga ge an irate, upset, or uncooperative person in the lobby, the notified probation officer shall re quest assistance from ot her available probation officers, who shall post in proximity to provide as sistance, if necessary. The probation officer may notify his/her supervisor, as well, if it is believed appropriate. In the JDF, the shift supervisor shall create a safe plan for d ealing with the irate, up set, or uncooperative pers on in the lobby while ensuring the needs of the JDF conti nue to be met. In any division, if law enforcement assistance is believed appropriate, a “911” telephone call to the local law enforcemen t agency may become necessary