Broward Sheriff's Office Standard Operating Procedures PDF

BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES 8.8 REPORT OF SEXUAL OR PHYSICAL CHILD ABUSE/NEGLECT CASE: A. General: A written report will be requi...

BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES 8.8 REPORT OF SEXUAL OR PHYSICAL CHILD ABUSE/NEGLECT CASE: A. General: A written report will be required if deputies are notified of an actual or suspected sexual or physical child abuse or neglect incident (per FS 39.201). B. Procedure: 1. When notified by Regional Communications of an actual or suspected sexual or physical child abuse or neglect incident, the call will be dispatched as a Signal 16, Child Abuse. 2. Responding deputies will complete an Incident Report classified as, "Child Abuse/Neglect," “Lewd/Lascivious Molestation”, “Indecent Exposure/Lewd Lascivious Act”, or "Sexual Battery Juvenile," depending on the allegation in each case of an actual or suspected sexual or physical child abuse or neglect. a. If an original report has already been generated by a Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) - served jurisdiction, then a supplement report will be completed. b. If the original report or allegations occurred in another jurisdiction, an Assist to Other Agency (AOA) report will be completed (and must include the case number and address of the alleged incident in the narrative section of the report.) c. If it is determined no crime was committed an information report will be generated. 3. Deputies sent to an actual or suspected sexual or physical child abuse or neglect incident will notify the Florida abuse hotline at 1-800-96- ABUSE (1-800-962-2873) and provide specific details on the case. 4. In all cases where deputies respond to a report of child abuse and the abuse hotline is contacted, they will note in their report the name and identification number of the hotline employee contacted. This information will also be included in the report if the call to the hotline was rejected for any reason. Reviewed: 03/06/2023 Revised: 09/22/2023 Rescinds: 10/01/2005 Effective: 10/29/2023 8.8 Page 1 of 3  BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES 5. During a preliminary investigation where there is no evidence of sexual or physical child abuse or neglect, deputies will indicate all observations in the Incident Report. Deputies will not code out a report involving crimes or suspected crimes against children. 6. If the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) responds to a scene, deputies will record the DCF investigator’s name in the witness section and DCF case number in the "Related Case#" block on the Incident Report. 7. The Special Victims Unit (SVU) will be notified via call-out procedures if there is an aggravated physical abuse incident or a sexual abuse incident involving a child. Delayed reports involving victims who are not at risk for further victimization will not result in a call-out. 8. The Special Victims Unit callout procedures must be thoroughly reviewed when investigating child abuse and/or neglect. The SVU Supervisor must be contacted via the Regional Communications duty officer prior to the arrest of any person for child abuse and/or neglect. 9. The Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) will be notified via callout procedures when investigating allegations of child pornography and human trafficking. Reviewed: 03/06/2023 Revised: 09/22/2023 Rescinds: 10/01/2005 Effective: 10/29/2023 8.8 Page 2 of 3  BROWARD SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES NOTICE This Standard Operating Procedures is considered law enforcement sensitive and contains certain information that is exempt under Florida Public Records Law. Outside or public requests for information from this Standard Operating Procedures must be directed to the Office of the Inspector General for review and redaction, if necessary, prior to disclosure. Reviewed: 03/06/2023 Revised: 09/22/2023 Rescinds: 10/01/2005 Effective: 10/29/2023 8.8 Page 3 of 3