Policy Text
Policy Number: IV33
Issued: 12/86
Revised: 10/01
Revised: 12/12
SAFETY, UNCOOPERATIVE CLIENTELE, AND THREATS
AUTHORITY
Related Probation Officer Procedures:
E2 Search and Seizure
E3 Arrest of Juveniles and Adults
F2 Continuum of Force
F8 Arming: Use of Firearms
Related Probation Officer Policies:
IV30 Injury, Occupational Exposure, and Medical Response
SAFETY/PROBATION DIVISIONS
Staff safety is the priority and it should be clearly understood that employees are not expected,
during the performance of their duties, to place themselves in any 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 assignments 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 employees or outside agencies, as
appropriate, while performing job tasks that may be risky. Employees must plan and apply
reasonable care and caution in all potentially dangerous 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 assaulted, 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 appropriate, and provide all pertinent
information to aid in the apprehension of the offender(s).
SAFETY/JDF DIVISIONS
Staff safety is the priority, and employees shall endeavor to complete their normal work
assignments utilizing methods designed to minimize, avoid or reduce physical danger to themselves
and others, their property, and County property. However, during the performance of their duties,
Juvenile Detention Facility (JDF) staff face dangerous and risky situations regularly, and must
address these situations as trained and as appropriate. Employees must plan and apply reasonable
care and caution in all potentially dangerous and risky situations, and use good judgment in
balancing the requirements of job performance, job duties, and safety issues.
UNCOOPERATIVE CLIENTELE ON THE PHONE OR IN THE LOBBY
On occasion, offenders or others related to an offender’s case come in to the Probation Department
or the lobby of a JDF, or telephone 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 Divisions, it is the responsibility of the probation officer assigned to the offender’s
case to deal with these situations directly, not the responsibility of the clerical reception staff. If the
assigned probation officer is not available, clerical reception staff shall first notify the “officer of
the day.” If the “officer of the day” is unavailable, a Senior Deputy Probation Officer (SrDPO)
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