When an inmate is booked as an adult and transported to court, then alleges to be a juvenile, they shall be referred to as an inmate of undetermined age and shall be segregated from other inmates.
When a Court Services Branch Supervisor learns they have an individual who was arrested, booked and arraigned in an adult court, but now claims to be a juvenile, the Branch Supervisor shall notify the Area Lieutenant and either the Watch Commander of IRC (male inmates) or CRDF (female inmates).
The Branch Supervisor shall ensure that the inmate is transported to the appropriate facility (male to IRC, female to CRDF) by Court Services Transportation Bureau (CST) and all necessary paperwork shall accompany the inmate, including a copy of their booking paperwork and Live Scan return.
It is the responsibility of the IRC/CRDF Watch Commander to request an investigation into the allegation. If the Watch Commander’s investigation is unable to verify the inmate of undetermined age’s newly claimed birth date, the IRC/CRDF Watch Commander shall ensure the inmate is transported to the court of jurisdiction on the next court day for the judge of that court to decide the inmate of undetermined age’s true birth date.
When CST Deputies arrive at court with the inmate of undetermined age, they shall provide lockup personnel with a copy of the Undetermined Age Report and supporting documents. If the judge determines the inmate is a juvenile, the Branch Supervisor shall ensure the subject’s transportation to IRC/CRDF or the facility the subject is currently housed on the next CST bus.
If an inmate of undetermined age has been determined by an investigation to be a juvenile, but probation has refused to accept the subject and the judge has refused to issue a Court Order for probation to accept the subject, transportation Deputies shall transport the inmate on the next court day to Court Services lockup in the court of jurisdiction. They shall provide Court Services personnel with a copy of the inmate of Undetermined Age Report and supporting documents. A member of the Custody Investigative Services Unit will appear in court in an attempt to obtain a Court Order remanding the subject to the Los Angeles County Probation Department.
When the judge issues a Court Order, Court Services personnel shall arrange for the subject’s transportation to IRC/CRDF or the facility the subject is currently housed at, on the next CST bus. The Custody Investigative Services Unit will immediately contact the IRC/CRDF Watch Commander with a copy of the Court Order.
For additional information regarding this policy, please refer to Correctional Services Division Directive 08-005 (Formal), “Inmates of Undetermined Age.”