FILE: JCABC
INTERROGATIONS
The Rapides Parish School Board fully recognizes the responsibility police or child protection agencies have to protect all citizens by enforcing the laws of the community. The School Board, in turn, has the responsibility to protect the students attending the schools of the district. Therefore, public agency officials may visit the school to obtain information or on other official business. Any public agency official entering school premises, however, shall be required to report first to the office of the principal, state his/her purpose, and produce proper identification.
Generally, interviews with students during school days or during extracurricular activities where the student is under the control of school administrators should be conducted by law enforcement personnel with the principal or another delegated staff member present. Generally, if police officers or other like officials request an interview at school, the administrator should attempt to contact the student's parents or legal guardian so that, if desired, one of those persons may be present during the interview. Generally, no student should be taken from school by law enforcement without parental notification and the consent of the principal or principal's designee. However, special circumstances may provide an exception to any of the general rules mentioned above. If, after verification of police authorities' identification, those authorities insist upon removal of a student without the presence of school personnel or parents, or upon removal of a student from the school setting, that decision and responsibility for any consequences must be made by law enforcement personnel. In such an event, the following procedures should be followed by school personnel:
Examine the identification and badges of any such law enforcement personnel and document the name and employing agent of each such officer.
Place a call to the supervisor of any such officer to verify the officer's employment and mission; explain the administration's concern over the insisted upon action and obtain and document the supervising officer's response as to why the course of action is necessary.
Notify the parent or guardian and document such notification UNLESS THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN SPECIFICALLY INSTRUCTED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS NOT TO MAKE SUCH NOTIFICATION. In this event, ask the instructing officer to state the instructions in writing and date and sign them, and if the request is refused, document the exact instructions and the circumstances in writing.
Immediately notify the office of the Superintendent and fax to the Superintendent's office the documentation and a general written narrative of the incident.
NOTE: IMPORTANT - See also policy LDAJ, Relations With Law Enforcement Authorities
Revised: January, 2002
Ref: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. ยง17:81
Board minutes, 12-4-01
Rapides Parish School Board