The Florida Senate

985.207  Taking a child into custody.--

(1)  A child may be taken into custody under the following circumstances:

(a)  Pursuant to an order of the circuit court issued under this part, based upon sworn testimony, either before or after a petition is filed.

(b)  For a delinquent act or violation of law, pursuant to Florida law pertaining to a lawful arrest. If such delinquent act or violation of law would be a felony if committed by an adult or involves a crime of violence, the arresting authority shall immediately notify the district school superintendent, or the superintendent's designee, of the school district with educational jurisdiction of the child. Such notification shall include other education providers such as the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, university developmental research schools, and private elementary and secondary schools. The information obtained by the superintendent of schools pursuant to this section must be released within 48 hours after receipt to appropriate school personnel, including the principal of the child's school, or as otherwise provided by law. The principal must immediately notify the child's immediate classroom teachers. Information provided by an arresting authority pursuant to this paragraph may not be placed in the student's permanent record and shall be removed from all school records no later than 9 months after the date of the arrest.

(c)  For failing to appear at a court hearing after being properly noticed.

(d)  By a law enforcement officer who has probable cause to believe that the child is in violation of the conditions of the child's community control, home detention, or aftercare supervision or has absconded from commitment.

Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to allow the detention of a child who does not meet the detention criteria in s. 985.215.

(2)  When a child is taken into custody as provided in this section, the person taking the child into custody shall attempt to notify the parent, guardian, or legal custodian of the child. The person taking the child into custody shall continue such attempt until the parent, guardian, or legal custodian of the child is notified or the child is delivered to a juvenile probation officer pursuant to s. 985.21, whichever occurs first. If the child is delivered to a juvenile probation officer before the parent, guardian, or legal custodian is notified, the juvenile probation officer shall continue the attempt to notify until the parent, guardian, or legal custodian of the child is notified.

(3)  Taking a child into custody is not an arrest except for the purpose of determining whether the taking into custody or the obtaining of any evidence in conjunction therewith is lawful.

History.--s. 5, ch. 90-208; s. 3, ch. 92-130; s. 7, ch. 92-287; s. 26, ch. 94-209; s. 1340, ch. 95-147; s. 7, ch. 95-267; s. 15, ch. 97-238; s. 8, ch. 98-207; s. 12, ch. 99-284.

Note.--Former s. 39.037.