Informing the Parent or Guardian When a Student has been Removed from School by a Police Officer
While it is primarily the role of the law enforcement officer to notify the parents/guardians that a student has been taken into custody, the person in charge shall also take immediate steps to notify the parents/guardians about the release of the student to the officer and where the student has reportedly been taken. See Removal of a Student from School during School Hours. However, the person in charge shall not notify the parents/guardians when a student has been removed from school as a victim of suspected child abuse or the officer has specifically requested that the student's parents/guardians not be notified. In the case of suspected child abuse, the officer will determine whether to notify the parents/guardians that the student has been removed from school. See Removal of a Student from School during School Hours. The person in charge shall provide the officer with the address and phone number of the student's parents/guardians.
The person in charge at the location should always obtain the following information:
- The name of the law enforcement officer or Child Protective Services representative
- The officer's badge or ID number
- The phone number of the police station
- Instructions from the officer regarding parent/guardian inquiries concerning the whereabouts of the student
For a case involving child abuse, see Interview of Students by Law Enforcement or Child Protective Agencies.
