You are a police officer responding to a disturbance call. Upon arriving at the scene, you discover 2 adolescents are restraining a younger child. The two adolescents inform you that the younger child was caught stealing a bicycle from a neighbor’s backyard and they held him until you arrived. The child is 8 years old and has not had any prior contact with the juvenile justice system or your police agency. The neighbor from whom the child took the bike is not home. The two adolescents state that they want you to arrest the boy because he is a problem in their neighborhood. He is disrespectful to others and tends to bully children who are younger than he.
The boy is crying and pleading with you not to arrest him and promises that he will never do it again. The boy lives about two blocks away from where the incident took place and states that his parents are both at home.
1. What would you do in this case and why?
2. Which of the discretionary options discussed in Chapter 7 would you likely follow?
3. What factors would you base your decision on? Discuss the applicable risk and protective factors.
4. What other information do you need to complete your investigation?
a. Do you need to interview any other persons? If so, who?
5. Would you make any referrals in this situation? If so, to whom or
which agencies?
6. Is it possible to satisfy everyone involved in this case?
