School principals may permit a police and/or School Resource Officer to question a juvenile student if he/she is a suspect in a crime. However, the questioning of this student must be done in the presence of a parent/guardian or when a parent/guardian cannot be reached, in the presence of an administrator.
In the event that a juvenile student who is a victim and/or witness to a crime initiates a conversation with a police officer and/or the School Resource Officer, or when the School Resource Officer wishes to speak to a student he/she believes to be a victim and/or witness to a crime, he/she may question the juvenile student in the absence of the principal or parent/guardian. In extreme cases, the police officer and/or School Resource Officer may take the victim and/or witness to the police station, hospital, or mental health facility to conduct his/her investigation. Prior to this action, however, it shall be the police officer’s and/or School Resource Officer’s responsibility to notify the school and parent of this intended action.
Any search of a juvenile student by a police officer and/or School Resource Officer will be conducted in the presence of a parent or principal (when a parent cannot be reached), unless a weapon is the object of the search and waiting for the parent or principal could result in harm to the officer or others. If the object of the search is narcotics or contraband, the police officer and/or School Resource Officer may secure the juvenile student and conduct his/her search when the parent or principal (when a parent cannot be reached) arrives.
Upon arrest, the police officer and/or School Resource Officer shall remove the arrestee from the school premises in a timely manner. However, in the event that the principal and police officer and/or School Resource Officer agree, the student may be released to the school or detained at the school until a parent/guardian arrives.
In instances where the student(s)involved are of legal age (18 or older), the presence or permission of a parent/guardian is not required.
References:
RI Gen. Laws § 16-2-16 Rules and regulations Curriculum.
Policy adopted:
4/23/81
Policy Amended:
9/9/03