COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES
POLICY S 8.4
PAGE NUMBER 1 OF 4
CHAPTER:
Safety and Emergency
SUBJECT:
Client Manager/Parole Officer Field Safety
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2017
THIS POLICY RELATES TO:
Anders Jacobson, Director
State-Operated Treatment Facilities Regional Offices
I.
POLICY: TO ENSURE SAFETY WHILE PERFORMING DUTIES IN THE COMMUNITY, ALL DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES’ CLIENT MANAGER/PAROLE OFFICERS WILL FOLLOW FIELD SAFETY PROCEDURES WHENEVER DIRECT CONTACT WITH YOUTH AND FAMILIES IS REQUIRED.
II.
KEY TERMS: FIELD SAFETY- A SET OF VERBAL DE-ESCALATION SKILLS/TOOLS AND SELFDEFENSE SKILLS USED BY DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES STAFF WHO MANAGES YOUTH IN COMMUNITY SETTINGS. THESE VERBAL DE-ESCALATION SKILLS/TOOLS PROVIDE VARIOUS MEANS OF COMMUNICATION TO HELP DIFFUSE VOLATILE SITUATIONS WHEN POSSIBLE. SHOULD A SITUATION OR YOUTH TURN FROM VERBAL TO PHYSICAL AGGRESSION, THE SELF-DEFENSE SKILLS PROVIDE NECESSARY TECHNIQUES TO ALLOW STAFF THE ABILITY TO ESCAPE/EVADE A CRITICAL SITUATION AND POSITION THEMSELVES TO BE ABLE TO CALL FOR ASSISTANCE.
III.
ASSOCIATED FORMS: NONE
IV.
PROCEDURES: A.
GENERAL 1.
EACH REGIONAL OFFICE WILL IMPLEMENT A SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS CLIENT MANAGERS/PAROLE OFFICERS TO KEEP THE OFFICE INFORMED OF THEIR WHEREABOUTS, INCLUDING ADDRESSES. METHODS MAY INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO: a.
THE USE OF SIGN IN/OUT BOARDS;
b.
A “BUDDY” SYSTEM;
c.
A CALL IN SYSTEM;
CHAPTER Safety and Emergency
SUBJECT Client Manager/Parole Officer Field Safety
d.
B.
POLICY S 8.4
PAGE 2 of 4 7/1/17
USE OF A STATE ISSUED SAFETY DEVICE.
2.
AS PART OF THE SIGN OUT SYSTEM, THE CLIENT MANAGERS/ PAROLE OFFICERS IN EACH REGIONAL OFFICE WILL IDENTIFY THE TYPE OF TRANSPORTATION UTILIZED (STATE OR PERSONAL VEHICLE). IN CASES WHERE A STATE VEHICLE IS USED, SIGN OUT MUST INCLUDE VEHICLE ID (PLATE NUMBER).
3.
EACH CLIENT MANAGER/PAROLE OFFICER WILL BE ISSUED A STATE CELL PHONE. CLIENT MANAGER/PAROLE OFFICERS SHALL CARRY CELL PHONES WHILE IN THE FIELD.
4.
REGIONAL OFFICES SHALL ENSURE THAT EACH CLIENT MANAGER/PAROLE OFFICER HAS ACCESS TO HANDCUFFS, SHACKLES AND A BELLY CHAIN AND THAT CLIENT MANAGERS/PAROLE OFFICERS ARE TRAINED IN THE USE OF SUCH EQUIPMENT.
5.
EACH REGION SHALL HAVE ACCESS TO A CAGED VEHICLE FOR SECURE TRANSPORT.
6.
CLIENT MANAGERS WILL PROVIDE THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR, SUPERVISORS AND SUPPORT STAFF WITH AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF THEIR PERSONAL VEHICLE. REGIONAL OFFICES WILL MAINTAIN AN ACCESSIBLE, CENTRALIZED LIST AND DESCRIPTION OF ALL ASSIGNED STATE VEHICLES.
7.
EACH REGIONAL OFFICE WILL DEVELOP WORKING RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO COORDINATE ARRESTS/APPREHENSION.
ENTERING CLIENT HOMES: 1.
UPON ASSIGNMENT OF A NEW CASE, CLIENT MANAGER/PAROLE OFFICERS, WHENEVER POSSIBLE SHALL CONTACT PRIOR PROBATION OFFICERS, AND/OR DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES’ CASEWORKERS TO GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT CLIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND SHALL INCLUDE DOCUMENTATION OF POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUES IN THE CLIENTS CASE NOTES.
2.
THE CLIENT MANAGER/PAROLE OFFICER WILL MAKE AN ASSESSMENT OF SAFETY CONCERNS PRIOR TO CONDUCTING A FAMILY INTERVIEW, HOME INSPECTION OR PAROLE VISIT. THIS EVALUATION MAY INCLUDE AN ASSESSMENT OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, CLIENT OR FAMILY. IF AFTER SUCH EVALUATION OR ATTEMPT TO ENTER THE HOME, THE CLIENT MANAGER/PAROLE OFFICER DETERMINES THAT THEY MAY BE AT RISK FOR PHYSICAL HARM, THEY SHALL: a.
CONSULT WITH THEIR SUPERVISOR TO DETERMINE IF AN ALTERNATIVE PAROLE PLACEMENT SHOULD BE UTILIZED; OR ARRANGE TO HAVE A SECOND CLIENT MANAGER ACCOMPANY THEM ON THE HOME INSPECTION.
CHAPTER Safety and Emergency
C.
SUBJECT Client Manager/Parole Officer Field Safety
POLICY S 8.4
PAGE 3 of 4 7/1/17
b.
BASED UPON THE EVALUATION OF SAFETY CONCERNS, CLIENT MANAGER/PAROLE OFFICERS AND SUPERVISORS SHALL MAKE THE DETERMINATION THAT SOME HOMES WILL BE ENTERED ONLY WHEN ACCOMPANIED BY POLICE OFFICERS.
c.
THE CLIENT MANAGER/PAROLE OFFICER SHALL ARRANGE TO MEET WITH THE FAMILY/YOUTH IN A NEUTRAL LOCATION.
TRANSPORT AND CUSTODY: 1.
CLIENT MANAGERS/PAROLE OFFICERS WILL MAKE AN EVALUATION OF YOUTH REQUIRING TRANSPORTATION UTILIZING THEIR HISTORY OF VICTIMIZATION, ASSAULTIVE/AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR AND ANY OTHER FACTORS THAT MAY IMPACT SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE COMMUNITY, YOUTH AND CLIENT MANAGER DURING THE TRANSPORT. THE RESULTS OF THIS EVALUATION SHALL DETERMINE THE METHOD OF TRANSPORTATION. a.
CLIENT MANAGER/PAROLE OFFICERS SHALL NOT USE THEIR PERSONAL VEHICLES TO TRANSPORT CLIENTS AS PER DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES POLICY "SECURITY, ASSIGNMENT AND USE OF STATE VEHICLES" AND DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES POLICY "TRANSPORTATION OF JUVENILES OUTSIDE OF THE FACILITY".
b.
CLIENT MANAGER/PAROLE OFFICERS SHALL ADHERE TO ALL SAFETY AND SECURITY GUIDELINES IN DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES POLICY "TRANSPORTATION OF JUVENILES OUTSIDE OF THE FACILITY".
c.
TRANSPORTS OF YOUTH DEEMED HIGH RISK OR OF THE OPPOSITE SEX SHALL INVOLVE TWO STAFF MEMBERS. WHEN TWO STAFF MEMBERS ARE NOT AVAILABLE, SUCH YOUTH SHALL BE TRANSPORTED IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE, PREFERABLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE.
d.
DURING THE COURSE OF NORMAL BUSINESS, EMERGENCY TRANSPORTS MAY OCCUR. IN SUCH SITUATIONS, CLIENT MANAGERS/PAROLE OFFICERS WILL CONTACT THE SUPERVISOR PRIOR TO AND AFTER THE TRANSPORT. FOLLOWING TRANSPORT, CLIENT MANAGERS/PAROLE OFFICERS WILL DOCUMENT THE DETAILS OF THE TRANSPORT TO INCLUDE CIRCUMSTANCES, DESTINATION, AND ELAPSED TIME.
e.
PRIOR TO PLACING A YOUTH INTO A VEHICLE, THE CLIENT MANAGER/PAROLE OFFICER SHALL CONDUCT A THOROUGH SEARCH OF THE VEHICLE AND THE YOUTH TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE NO ITEMS THAT MAY BE USED TO REMOVE RESTRAINTS OR USED AS WEAPONS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES POLICY " TRANSPORTATION OF JUVENILES OUTSIDE OF THE FACILITY".
CHAPTER Safety and Emergency
D.
SUBJECT Client Manager/Parole Officer Field Safety
POLICY S 8.4
PAGE 4 of 4 7/1/17
2.
CLIENT MANGERS/PAROLE OFFICERS SHALL FOLLOW STATE LAW IN PLACING CLIENTS IN THE FRONT SEAT OF VEHICLES. CONSIDERATIONS SHALL INCLUDE WEIGHT AND HEIGHT GUIDELINES.
3.
IN CASES WHERE PAROLED YOUTH ESCAPE FROM TRANSPORT, THE CLIENT MANAGER/PAROLE OFFICER SHALL: a.
IMMEDIATELY CONTACT LAW ENFORCEMENT.
b.
ASSESS THE SITUATION TO DETERMINE IF THE CLIENT SHOULD BE APPROACHED CONSIDERING SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY, YOUTH AND CLIENT MANAGER/ PAROLE OFFICER. THE CLIENT MANAGER/PAROLE OFFICER MAY ATTEMPT TO KEEP YOUTH WITHIN EYESIGHT ONCE THEY HAVE ASSESSED THE SITUATION.
c.
FOLLOW ALL DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICES POLICY AND PROCEDURES REGARDING REPORTING ESCAPEES.
APPREHENSION 1.
WHEN ENCOUNTERING CLIENTS IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE ON ESCAPE STATUS OR HAVE AN ACTIVE WARRANT FOR THEIR ARREST, THE CLIENT MANAGER/PAROLE OFFICER SHALL: a.
IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY LAW ENFORCEMENT.
b.
ASSESS THE SITUATION TO DETERMINE IF THE CLIENT SHOULD BE APPROACHED CONSIDERING SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY, YOUTH AND CLIENT MANAGER/PAROLE OFFICER. CLIENT MANAGER/PAROLE OFFICER MAY ATTEMPT TO KEEP YOUTH WITHIN EYESIGHT ONCE THEY HAVE ASSESSED THE SITUATION.
2.
CLIENT MANAGER/PAROLE OFFICERS MAY TAKE INTO CUSTODY A YOUTH ONLY WHEN THE YOUTH AGREES TO BE TAKEN INTO CUSTODY PEACEFULLY.
3.
WHEN CONDUCTING AN APPREHENSION, CLIENT MANAGER/PAROLE OFFICERS SHALL CONTACT THEIR SUPERVISOR TO APPRISE THEM OF THE SITUATION. SUPERVISORS SHALL BE CONTACTED AGAIN ONCE THE APPREHENSION IS COMPLETE.
4.
CLIENT MANAGERS/PAROLE OFFICERS SHALL INVOLVE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WHEN PLANNING TO APPREHEND A YOUTH IN THE COMMUNITY.
5.
CLIENT MANAGER/PAROLE OFFICERS MAY TAKE YOUTH INTO CUSTODY IN THE REGIONAL OFFICE. AN ASSESSMENT OF FLIGHT RISK OR RESISTANCE SHALL BE MADE PRIOR TO DOING SO. YOUTH MAY BE ARRESTED BY LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IN REGIONAL OFFICES WHEN DEEMED APPROPRIATE.
