What is the protocol for securing a juvenile at a police facility?

The protocol for securing a juvenile at a police facility emphasizes the importance of a juvenile intake worker's supervision. This approach is designed to ensure that juveniles are treated appropriately within the justice system, reflecting their developmental needs and legal rights. Juvenile intake workers are trained to handle the specific challenges that might arise when dealing with young individuals, including understanding the psychological and social dynamics that differ from adult offenders.

Having a juvenile intake worker present helps to create a supportive environment that can facilitate the appropriate processing of the juvenile, ensuring their welfare and providing guidance on legal procedures. This is crucial because juveniles require different handling than adults due to their age, cognitive development, and vulnerability. These measures are aimed at preventing potential harm and ensuring that the juvenile's experience within the facility is as constructive and rehabilitative as possible.

Other protocols, such as placing juveniles in solitary confinement, holding them with adult offenders, or requiring immediate release to a guardian, do not prioritize the unique needs of juveniles and do not align with best practices in juvenile justice. Solitary confinement can lead to significant psychological harm, mixing juveniles with adults can expose them to dangerous influences, and premature release without proper processing can jeopardize the legal process and the juvenile's safety. Therefore, the presence