Policy Text
POLICY
147.0CHILD ABUSE, NEGLECT AND ABANDONMENT
REVISED: 11/2011 RELATED POLICIES:
Reviewed by Chief David Magnusson
4/2019
A.POLICY
It is the policy of the El Portal Police Department to investigate all reports of cases
where a child is alleged to have been harmed or to be in danger of harm, child
abuse, neglect and abandonment. Further, members of the El Portal Police
Department shall ensure that victims of child abuse, neglect and/or abandonment
are removed from any environment where continued abuse is a possibility.
RESPONSIBILITY.
1.Child abuse and neglect is like no other crime to the extent that the El Portal
Police Department shares the investigative responsibility with a Department of
Children and Families protective investigator.
2.While dual jurisdiction is statutorily mandated, both D.C.F. and the Police
Department are responsible for different investigative elements of the same crime.
3.Specific Responsibility:
a.D.C.F. is primarily responsible for the safety and placement of the child
and intervention services for the family;
b.The Police Department is responsible for the investigation of the crime
and, when appropriate, to assist with the prosecution of the offender
c.Criminal investigation of a child abuse complaint is the responsibility of
the responding police officer
d.Handling of evidence, pictorial, physical, testimonial and all other types of
evidence is the responsibility of the Police Department and shall be done
with care in all cases
B.NOTIFICATION OF INITIAL COMPLAINT
1.When D.C.F. notifies the Police Department of an abuse complaint, it is a request
for the initiation of a police investigation of abuse or neglect, NOT a
miscellaneous assist for D.C.F. The complaint will be dispatched as promptly as
possible within the guidelines of the Communications S.O.P.
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2.When the police are dispatched to an abuse or neglect complaint and the reporting
person is someone other than D.C.F., it is the responsibility of the responding
officer to notify D.C.F. via the Abuse Registry, if the abuser is an adult caretaker
or family member. The telephone numbers are: (1-800-96-ABUSE) or voice mail
(1-800-770-0953), which will prompt the caller for needed information.
C.JOINT INVESTIGATION
In all cases, whenever practical, the Police Department shall endeavor to engage in a joint
investigation with D.C.F. This joint investigation is intended to reduce the trauma to the
child caused by multiple interviews and to increase the chances of preserving the
testimonial evidence for court.
1.INTERVIEWS – The D.C.F. protective investigator and the police officer have
mutual responsibility for interviewing victims and witnesses. The initial
interview need not be exhaustive, but needs to establish that an offense has
occurred.
Tips for interviewing:
a.Be friendly and get on the child's level.
b.Don't ask leading questions – ask: "what happened?"
c.Remember to separate parties (mother, father, and child).
d.Document what the child says as close to verbatim as possible, listing the
conditions under which the statement was made.
e.Don't react with anger, shock, surprise or any other emotion, which may
negatively affect the statement.
2.EVIDENCE COLLECTION - The police are solely responsible for the collection
of evidence.
a.Documentary - names, addresses, DOB, home phone, work phone,
employment or school for all victims, witnesses and suspects.
b.Testimonial - all statements made by victims, witnesses and suspects.
c.Pictorial - victims, suspects, scenes.
d.Physical - belts, cords, switches, hairbrushes, rape kits, pornography, etc.
that is pertinent to the case.
3.REMOVAL OF CHILD - The police may temporarily remove children from a
dangerous environment; however they are required to turn the children over to
D.C.F., who has the ultimate responsibility of placement. When the police
remove a child, D.C.F. shall be advised via the Abuse Registry (1-800-96-
ABUSE).
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4.INFORMATION SHARING - D.C.F. and the Police Department are to share all
investigative information. Officers shall ask for and obtain a copy of the D.C.F.
referral. Officers shall attach it to their report, if it is available. DCF will be
provided with all related Offense Reports and investigative supplements.
5.INTERVIEWS ON SCHOOL GROUNDS - Whenever possible, notify the
principal of a school and the Investigative Bureau prior to arrival. When a child is
interviewed, it is the decision of the CHILD, not the principal, as to whether
school personnel should be included in the interview. (Very young children may
feel more secure in the presence of a trusted teacher.) When a child is removed
from school during school hours, the child must be signed out according to the
policy of the Dade County School Board. It is the obligation of the officer
removing a child from school to notify the parents of the location of the child.
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