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Field Operations Directives (FODs)

98-002 Assisting Department of Children and Family Services in Child Abuse Investigations


98-003 Retention of "Raw" Victim/Witness Interview Notes/Recordings
98-001 Conditions of Probation System (C.O.P.S.) Procedures for Juveniles

ASSISTING DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES IN CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATIONS

When requested by the Department of Children and Family Services for assistance in entering a residence or dwelling to conduct a child welfare investigation, deputies will present the request to the station Watch Commander.

The Watch Commander will not authorize deputies to enter a residence or to assist a DFCS worker to enter a residence by keeping the peace unless: (1) the resident freely consents to the entry, (2) the Watch Commander has determined that there is probable cause to believe that a child inside the residence is in immediate danger, or (3) the DCFS worker has a warrant.

Upon entering a residence in support of a DCFS investigation, the role of the deputy is to protect the social worker conducting the investigation. Deputies shall not take law enforcement action unless confronted in plain view with evidence of a public offense.

DCFS requests for assistance in making residential entries and the facts justifying the Watch Commander's decision whether to assist DCFS in making the entry will be documented with an entry in the Deputy's Daily Work Sheet, unless an Incident Report is necessary.