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The Elements of Style
Amazon.com
Composition teachers throughout the English-speaking world have been pushing this
book on their students since it was first published in 1957. Co-author White later
revised it, and it remains the most compact and lucid handbook we have for matters of
basic principles of composition, grammar, word usage and misusage, and writing style.
Amazon.com
Composition teachers throughout the English-speaking world have been pushing this
book on their students since it was first published in 1957. Co-author White later
revised it, and it remains the most compact and lucid handbook we have for matters of
basic principles of composition, grammar, word usage and misusage, and writing style.
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| Juvenile Custody Report |
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I was still a brand new police officer when I
was detailed to direct traffic at a Baltimore
Orioles' baseball game. As the traffic flow
was returning to normal following the end of
the game, I was about to leave the
assignment when I was approached by an 11
year old boy.
The boy was an intelligent and obviously well
adjusted young man who'd simply gotten
separated from a group that had attended the
baseball game. He ask me to assist him in
contacting his parents since he'd spent all of
his money and didn't even have a dime (yes,
a dime...that's how long ago this incident
occurred) for a pay phone.
The young boy resided a considerable
distance outside the city, so I transported
him to a nearby police district station (not my
own) where I placed a call to his home. The
appreciative parents were on their way, but it
would be about 45 minutes before their
arrival.
I got the kid a cold soda, and we sat down in
the station's roll call room where I went
about catching up on my activity sheet.
Shortly thereafter, a sergeant walked into
the roll call room. He came over to me and
asked, "What do you have, officer?" I
explained the circumstances, and the
sergeant smiled and nodded. The sergeant
then stated, "Give me your incident and
custody reports, and I'll sign them for you."
Oops. What incident and custody reports was
he talking about?
Even though I was still quite new, I'd written
a few juvenile custody reports. However, up
to now, all the incidents had involved neglect,
was detailed to direct traffic at a Baltimore
Orioles' baseball game. As the traffic flow
was returning to normal following the end of
the game, I was about to leave the
assignment when I was approached by an 11
year old boy.
The boy was an intelligent and obviously well
adjusted young man who'd simply gotten
separated from a group that had attended the
baseball game. He ask me to assist him in
contacting his parents since he'd spent all of
his money and didn't even have a dime (yes,
a dime...that's how long ago this incident
occurred) for a pay phone.
The young boy resided a considerable
distance outside the city, so I transported
him to a nearby police district station (not my
own) where I placed a call to his home. The
appreciative parents were on their way, but it
would be about 45 minutes before their
arrival.
I got the kid a cold soda, and we sat down in
the station's roll call room where I went
about catching up on my activity sheet.
Shortly thereafter, a sergeant walked into
the roll call room. He came over to me and
asked, "What do you have, officer?" I
explained the circumstances, and the
sergeant smiled and nodded. The sergeant
then stated, "Give me your incident and
custody reports, and I'll sign them for you."
Oops. What incident and custody reports was
he talking about?
Even though I was still quite new, I'd written
a few juvenile custody reports. However, up
to now, all the incidents had involved neglect,
abuse, or criminal conduct. It simply hadn't occurred to me, by the benign
circumstances of this incident, that this boy was, in fact, in my custody.
Although I would never again have contact with this particular sergeant, I
never forgot his name. Sergeant Stine gave me a polite and concise refresher
course on reporting requirements. It was all very simple. The incident was
"Lost Child" on a Miscellaneous Incident Report, and the Juvenile Custody
Report, with the same incident title, accompanied the MI report.
In this incident, the moment I placed that young boy into my radio car, I'd
taken physical custody of him. True...he was not neglected, abused, and he'd
committed no criminal act. However, by virtue of his age, my control over him
made his continuing welfare my responsibility.
You'll frequently take custody of juveniles under any number of circumstances.
Your police department will have some kind of reporting procedure to
document your custody and the final disposition of the juvenile. Don't make
the mistake of viewing such reporting requirements as unnecessary under any
circumstances.
The incident I described occurred well over thirty years ago, but the Baltimore
Police Department was well ahead of the times by its attention to the
importance of documenting a police officer's interaction with juveniles. Time
and society's increased attention to incidents involving juveniles has made
documenting police custody of juveniles more important than ever.
While your power to take a juvenile into your custody has not diminished over
time, your power to release a juvenile from your custody, on your own
authority, has diminished considerably. When your custody is a result of
allegations of neglect or abuse, you'll most probably be required to seek
direction from a governmental agency such as a department of social services.
Let's look at a common mistake police officers have made in the past and
continue to make today:
In this scenario, the correct procedure would be to contact the appropriate
agency to determine the disposition of the infant. It's quite possible that the
social worker, following an interview, inspection, etc, may well approve the next
door neighbor in this example. Let's say you handled this incident correctly,
and the social worker approves the next door neighbor. You could well have
another police officer chastise you for wasting time, because the end result
would have been the same with a lot less effort. Whenever you're criticised by
another police officer for doing anything correctly, don't ever place any trust in
that officer in the future.
Writing a juvenile custody report and making any required notifications isn't
any different from preparing other reports. Like other reporting, it's a matter
of knowing when a juvenile custody report is required.
circumstances of this incident, that this boy was, in fact, in my custody.
Although I would never again have contact with this particular sergeant, I
never forgot his name. Sergeant Stine gave me a polite and concise refresher
course on reporting requirements. It was all very simple. The incident was
"Lost Child" on a Miscellaneous Incident Report, and the Juvenile Custody
Report, with the same incident title, accompanied the MI report.
In this incident, the moment I placed that young boy into my radio car, I'd
taken physical custody of him. True...he was not neglected, abused, and he'd
committed no criminal act. However, by virtue of his age, my control over him
made his continuing welfare my responsibility.
You'll frequently take custody of juveniles under any number of circumstances.
Your police department will have some kind of reporting procedure to
document your custody and the final disposition of the juvenile. Don't make
the mistake of viewing such reporting requirements as unnecessary under any
circumstances.
The incident I described occurred well over thirty years ago, but the Baltimore
Police Department was well ahead of the times by its attention to the
importance of documenting a police officer's interaction with juveniles. Time
and society's increased attention to incidents involving juveniles has made
documenting police custody of juveniles more important than ever.
While your power to take a juvenile into your custody has not diminished over
time, your power to release a juvenile from your custody, on your own
authority, has diminished considerably. When your custody is a result of
allegations of neglect or abuse, you'll most probably be required to seek
direction from a governmental agency such as a department of social services.
Let's look at a common mistake police officers have made in the past and
continue to make today:
In this scenario, the correct procedure would be to contact the appropriate
agency to determine the disposition of the infant. It's quite possible that the
social worker, following an interview, inspection, etc, may well approve the next
door neighbor in this example. Let's say you handled this incident correctly,
and the social worker approves the next door neighbor. You could well have
another police officer chastise you for wasting time, because the end result
would have been the same with a lot less effort. Whenever you're criticised by
another police officer for doing anything correctly, don't ever place any trust in
that officer in the future.
Writing a juvenile custody report and making any required notifications isn't
any different from preparing other reports. Like other reporting, it's a matter
of knowing when a juvenile custody report is required.
You respond to a residence to serve an arrest warrant on Ms Smith
for an accusation of theft. Ms Smith is alone in the residence except
for her 2 year old infant.
Since the infant obviously cannot accompany the mother to jail, you
must ensure the child's welfare. The child's father is not available,
and you learn that the father does not even reside at the residence.
Ms Smith asks that the child be placed in the custody of her next door
neighbor; until, she returns. Here's where a lot of police officers will
do just that. The neighbor seems decent enough. She shows concern,
and she gladly takes custody of the child.
Here's how some cops think. Ms Smith will likely be out of jail
shortly after booking and her interview before a court commissioner.
As long as everything goes the way it's supposed to go and the child
receives competent care, no harm will come from your incorrect
handling of the child's custody.
On the other hand, if any harm comes to that child during the
mother's absence, you'll be in a world of hurt. When it comes to
children -- particularly helpless infants -- you must never short cut or
take anything for granted. What if the mother doesn't get out of
jail? What if the neighbor is a "Crack" addict who lives with a
convicted sex offender? There can be a lot of "what ifs."
Even after reading what I've just described, there are some police
officers who just don't get it. Their standard defense would be, "The
mother made the decision."
Okay...let's break this down. Until you showed up, the infant was in
the mother's custody. You have an arrest warrant which places the
mother into your custody. It should be obvious that the arrest of the
mother has removed her custody and control over the infant. The
"mother made the decision defense" won't fly since a person you
arrest can't make decisions, because a person you've arrested is
under your total control. In other words, the so called "mother's
decision" becomes "your" decision.
for an accusation of theft. Ms Smith is alone in the residence except
for her 2 year old infant.
Since the infant obviously cannot accompany the mother to jail, you
must ensure the child's welfare. The child's father is not available,
and you learn that the father does not even reside at the residence.
Ms Smith asks that the child be placed in the custody of her next door
neighbor; until, she returns. Here's where a lot of police officers will
do just that. The neighbor seems decent enough. She shows concern,
and she gladly takes custody of the child.
Here's how some cops think. Ms Smith will likely be out of jail
shortly after booking and her interview before a court commissioner.
As long as everything goes the way it's supposed to go and the child
receives competent care, no harm will come from your incorrect
handling of the child's custody.
On the other hand, if any harm comes to that child during the
mother's absence, you'll be in a world of hurt. When it comes to
children -- particularly helpless infants -- you must never short cut or
take anything for granted. What if the mother doesn't get out of
jail? What if the neighbor is a "Crack" addict who lives with a
convicted sex offender? There can be a lot of "what ifs."
Even after reading what I've just described, there are some police
officers who just don't get it. Their standard defense would be, "The
mother made the decision."
Okay...let's break this down. Until you showed up, the infant was in
the mother's custody. You have an arrest warrant which places the
mother into your custody. It should be obvious that the arrest of the
mother has removed her custody and control over the infant. The
"mother made the decision defense" won't fly since a person you
arrest can't make decisions, because a person you've arrested is
under your total control. In other words, the so called "mother's
decision" becomes "your" decision.