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Police handcuff 9-year old; Leads to Questions about Policy

Last year, a nine-year old was taken to the police station in Portland in handcuffs. Once at the police station, she was photographed and fingerprinted before being released to her mother. She was being questioned for Assault in the fourth degree, for being involved in a fight outside the Boys & Girls Club in Portland. Police handcuff 9-year old; Leads to Questions about Policy

The police officers followed the Police Bureau policies, and an investigation showed no violations in their actions with the nine-year old. Current policy stated that police “shall” fingerprint and photograph juveniles taken into custody for felonies or class A misdemeanors, and “may” fingerprint and photograph those in custody for Class B and C misdemeanors.

This incident has called into question the policies of the Police Bureau when dealing with younger juveniles. Juvenile rights advocates are fighting for changes to the policies that allow juveniles like this nine-year old to be handcuffed and taken to the police station for fingerprinting and photographs.

What are your thoughts?  Are these policies appropriate and fitting for the crimes committed by the juveniles? Or are they too harsh for younger juveniles?

For more information on this particular incident, see this article: https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2014/05/9-year-old_led_away_in_handcuf.html#incart_m-rpt-1

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