The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the St. Louis Circuit Court's Juvenile Division reached an agreement this week to clarify the process of handling juvenile suspects in criminal cases.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the St. Louis Circuit Court's Juvenile Division reached an agreement this week to clarify the process of handling juvenile suspects in criminal cases.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the St. Louis Circuit Court's Juvenile Division reached an agreement this week to clarify the process of handling juvenile suspects in criminal cases.
The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the St. Louis Circuit Court's Juvenile Division reached an agreement this week to clarify the process of handling juvenile suspects in criminal cases.
Memorandum of Understanding between
St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department
&
al Circuit Family Court-Juvenile Division
‘Twenty-Second Ju
PURPOSE: To provide procedures related to the handling of juveniles alleged to have
committed law violations under Section 211.031.1 (2), (3).
Section I: JUVENILES COUNSELED AND RELEASED.
A. A juvenile taken into custody by a member of SLMPD may be counseled and released if
the following criteria are met:
1. not being charged with a felony;
2. not being charged with a misdemeanor where a second juvenile involved in the same
incident is being charged with a felony.
NOTE: Officers always have the option of taking a Juvenile directly to the Intake Unit of
the Juvenile Court and preparing an affidavit requesting the Juvenile be held,
B. Inall cases where a juvenile is counseled and released an "X" Juvenile Confidential
History Form (JCHF) will be prepared.
C. If the decision is made to counsel and release, the officer will take the juvenile home.
However, at the discretion of the Watch Commander, the juvenile may be held at the
Area Station pending the arrival of a parent or guardian
Section IT: JUVENILES PRESENTED IN PERSON TO JUVENILE COURT FOR FORMAL
REFERRAL
A. The apprehending officer will complete one copy of the Juvenile Detention Affidavit,
available at the Juvenile Court. The affidavit should detail sufficient factual evidence to
support probable cause. It is not necessary to write an entire police report for the
affidavit.
B. Juveniles charged with a felony offense must always be brought to the Detention Center
so they can be properly processed. OFFICERS ARE NOT TO CALL INTAKE unless
requesting the following information:
a, JIS record check
b. Wanted status
c. DYS wanted status
C. Upon review of the police officer’s written affidavit, the Juvenile Court will make the
determination as to whether a juvenile will be booked and on what charge(s).
D. If the Juvenile Court determines that the juvenile will be booked and detained at the
Juvenile Detention Center, the apprehending Police Officer will be given a notarized
copy of the Juvenile Detention Affidavit and Admissions Form which he/she will place inthe basket for the district of apprehension. The apprehending officer will immediately
prepare the police report
E. When an officer takes a juvenile into custody and knows that he/she will be held at the
Intake Unit, the ofticer will complete a St, Louis Family Court Warrant Application
Referral Card and issue it to each victim or witness. The card contains the basic
prosecution procedures, including the following information:
a. acheck box if the victim wishes to prosecute;
the date;
a mandatory victim interview within 24 hours of the arrest statement;
the location of the Court;
hours of vietim interviews;
juvenile’s name;
complaint number;
h, charges; and
i. officer information.
F, When Juveniles are brought to the Juvenile Detention Center for a FELONY offense and
the Juvenile Court determines that a juvenile is not to be held at the Juvenile Detention
Center, the officer(s) will book on an “X” JCHF and release to a parent or guardian. In
this situation the apprehending officer will not be given a copy of the Juvenile Detention
Affidavit or a copy of the Admissions Form,
G. When a juvenile is presented to the Court for a felony offense, the officer(s) shall have
the fingerprints and photographs of the juvenile taken regardless of whether the Court
files a charge or detains the juvenile.
H. The Juvenile Court will not be involved in the transportation of the juvenile to his/her
home when the charge is a Misdemeanor and Ordinance case where the officer X-books
the juvenile. Options for the officer, under our policies and guidelines, include 1)
transporting the juvenile home, 2) releasing the juvenile to a parent/guardian at the scene,
or 3) with the Watch Commander's permission, holding the juvenile at the Area Station
for a parent/guardian,
emepaeg
Signed and agreed hereto:
JDK MR 3|\e
Nathan Graves Date
Court Administrator
Twenty-Second Judicial Circuit Court
(2
Colonel Robs i? Tracy
Police €o joner
St. Louis Mettsgolitan Police Depgrtment