16-10 - LASD Statistical Codes Requiring Mandatory Secondary Clearance Code DCFS Notification/No DCFS Notification

LASD STATISTICAL CODES REQUIRING

MANDATORY SECONDARY CLEARANCE CODE

DCFS NOTIFICATION / NO DCFS NOTIFICATION

In 2015, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department received and handled over 18,526 Suspected Child Abuse Reports (SCARS) throughout the 26 Sheriff’s Stations.  Since 2009, SCARS have been directly cross-reported from the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Child Abuse Hotline and sent to the respective station to be handled as a “call for service” via the eSCAR system.  However, child abuse calls are received through a variety of other ways as well (such as, parents, neighbors, schools, mandated reporters, etc.).  This has caused confusion as to whether these calls for service need to be cross-reported to DCFS.  As a result, there has been an increased need for accountability by patrol deputies to explain whether they contacted DCFS or did not contact DCFS on any particular case.

Effective June 1, 2016, patrol deputies who pull any one of the below listed statistical codes will be required to utilize a mandatory secondary clearance code (851, DCFS Notified, or 852, DCFS Not Notified) to identify in their call for service log whether they contacted DCFS or not with a brief explanation as to why they did or did not.  These types of calls for service whether received via eSCARs or by other means will not be able to be cleared without inputting the mandatory secondary clearance code.

SCARs received via the eSCAR system and are cleared with one of the below statistical codes will require a secondary clearance code of 851 or 852.  If a deputy does not contact DCFS because the SCAR was received via the eSCAR system, the new mandatory clearance code of 852, DCFS Not Notified, with a brief synopsis why DCFS was not notified (received via eSCARs) shall be used.  If a deputy receives a SCAR via the eSCAR system and does contact DCFS, the new mandatory clearance code of 851, DCFS Notified, with a brief synopsis why DCFS was notified (additional information) shall be used.

When a patrol deputy receives a call for service regarding child abuse and it is determined that a crime has occurred, the deputy is required to contact DCFS, cross-report the information, generate a 19-digit CDFS referral number, and write an incident report.  When clearing the call from the MDC along with the appropriate statistical code, the new mandatory clearance code 851, DCFS Notified, with a brief synopsis why DCFS was notified (crime within the home) shall be used.  

When a patrol deputy receives a call for service regarding a child abuse case and, after further investigation, determines there is no crime suspected, there is no need to contact DCFS.  The patrol deputy will complete a SCAR Clearance Narrative Check-Off Report to document the investigation.  When clearing the call from the MDC, the 419 statistical code will be used, as well as the new mandatory clearance code 852, DCFS Not Notified, with a brief synopsis why DCFS was not notified (no crime).

In the event no crime is determined and there is still concern for the welfare of the children, patrol personnel shall contact the DCFS Hotline immediately and obtain a 19 digit referral number and indicate the contact on the SCAR Clearance / Narrative Check-Off Report as well as the new mandatory clearance code 851, DCFS Notified, with a brief synopsis why DCFS was notified (services could be used by child).

The Chart shows the statistical code/Penal Code which now requires a new DCFS notification clearance code.

Information regarding the content of this newsletter may be directed to Field Operations Support Services at (323) 890-5411.