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Field Operations Directives (FODs)

98-001 Conditions of Probation System (C.O.P.S.) Procedures for Juveniles


98-002 Assisting Department of Children and Family Services in Child Abuse Investigations
97-016 Handling of Evidence "Chain of Custody"

CONDITIONS OF PROBATION SYSTEM (C.O.P.S.) PROCEDURES FOR JUVENILES

The Conditions of Probation System (C.O.P.S.) is part of the Countywide Warrant System (CWS) database. This program allows deputy personnel to access juvenile probation information from any Mobile Digital Terminal (MDT), Mobile Digital Computer (MDC), J.D.I.C. terminal, or Direct Connect Terminal. C.O.P.S. provides the probationer's type of probation, expiration of probation, and conditions of probation. All juveniles on probation who have at least one enforceable condition are included in this program. C.O.P.S. provides Department personnel with consolidated probation information on a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week basis.

C.O.P.S. is a law enforcement "tool" which can:

  • Alert field personnel to potentially dangerous individuals,
  • Assist field personnel in gaining compliance from those persons on probation, and
  • Assist field personnel and investigators when conducting probation violation enforcement.

The purpose of this Field Operations Directive is to provide field deputies and investigators with procedures when conducting investigations, making notifications to the Probation Department, and/or making arrests of persons who are on probation incident to information received from C.O.P.S.

C.O.P.S. VIOLATION REPORT

With the inception of C.O.P.S., the Probation Department has advised law enforcement that, in order to better track and violate juvenile probationers who are not detained by law enforcement, certain information regarding the probationer and the violations committed must be documented and forwarded to their department To make this procedure as simple as possible, a "C.O.P.S. Violation Report" form shall be used by deputy personnel to make this notification. The report must be forwarded to the appropriate Probation Department area office (which will appear in the C.O.P.S. return message) who will then forward it to the appropriate deputy probation officer (DPO).

NOTE: C.O.P.S. Violation Reports should be used when a probationer has violated probation and the investigating deputy decides NOT to make an arrest but desires to notify the probationer's probation officer (DPO) of the violation.

FIELD PROCEDURES

CONDITION OF PROBATION VIOLATION ONLY: When deputy personnel contact a juvenile probationer who has committed a violation of probation only (no new crime), deputy personnel may:

  • "Warn and advise," or
  • Detain the juvenile for the probation violation.

Warn and Advise: If deputy personnel wish to "warn and advise" a juvenile of a probation violation and notify the juvenile's DPO of the violation, a C.O.P.S. Violation Report shall be completed and forwarded to the appropriate Probation Department area office.

Detain: If deputy personnel decide to detain a juvenile for "violation of probation" (777 WIC) personnel shall request approval for booking from the station watch commander and, if booking is approved, shall complete a Probable Cause Declaration. An Incident Report (SH-R-49) shall document the facts of the violation, probation status, reason for probation (original crime), the assigned probation office and DPO number, and the Court jurisdiction to which the probationer is assigned. A copy of the Incident Report shall be immediately forwarded to the appropriate Probation Department area office.

NOTE:  If an arresting deputy wishes to detain a juvenile at an Intake Detention Center (IDC), the deputy must have approval from the juvenile's deputy probation officer (DPO) or supervising deputy probation officer (SDPO). IDC WILL NOT ACCEPT THE JUVENILE WITHOUT APPROVAL FROM THE PROBATIONER'S DPO OR SDPO.

FELONY/MISDEMEANOR CRIMES: When deputy personnel contact a juvenile probationer who has committed a felony or misdemeanor crime which violates the juvenile's terms of probation, the following shall occur:

If the juvenile has been taken into custody, the juvenile shall be booked on the new charge and may be add-charged with "violation of probation," (777 WIC).

If deputy personnel add-charge the suspect with "violation of probation," the Incident Report shall include, along with the facts of the crime, the suspect's probation status, reason for probation, the assigned probation office and DPO number, and the Court jurisdiction to which the probationer is assigned. A copy of the Incident Report shall be forwarded to the appropriate Probation Department area office. If deputy personnel wish to detain a juvenile at an Intake Detention Center (IDC) must contact the juvenile's deputy probation officer (DPO) or supervising deputy probation officer (SDPO) and receive approval.

SUMMARY

The Conditions of Probation System (C.O.P.S.) provides deputies, and other officers who work within Los Angeles County, probation status and terms of probation on juvenile probationers C.O.P.S. is a "tool" for field deputies and investigators who wish to gain compliance from probationers and/or for additional probable cause when initiating ”warrantless” searches or arrests.