Cops and Kids

Juvenile encounters present some of the most challenging and legally sensitive situations law enforcement officers face. The laws governing juvenile offenders, victims, custody, questioning, and release are complex and continually evolving, leaving officers vulnerable to uncertainty, suppression issues, and procedural mistakes.

This comprehensive one-day course provides officers with the legal knowledge and practical guidance necessary to confidently handle juvenile investigations from the initial encounter through final disposition. Led by an experienced juvenile officer, the program combines current law, real-world examples, and best practices designed for immediate application in the field.

Officers will examine the proper use of curbside warnings and stationhouse adjustments, the legal standards for taking juveniles into custody, and the procedures governing release to a parent, guardian, or on the juvenile’s own recognizance. The course also addresses interviewing juvenile suspects, victims, and witnesses, including Miranda considerations, parental involvement, voluntariness, and documentation requirements.

Additional instruction focuses on working with school officials during investigations, understanding the different legal standards that may apply in the school environment, and effectively enforcing cannabis, alcohol, and other common juvenile-related violations.

Whether assigned to patrol, investigations, juvenile services, or a school resource officer unit, officers will leave this course better prepared to make lawful, consistent, and defensible decisions while protecting the rights and safety of juveniles.