Juvenile Detective

The Juvenile Detective has a complex and demanding job with the department. He is assigned to the Investigations Unit and handles anything juvenile related. The juvenile detective's duties fall within two categories: investigating crimes and educating youth.

As a trained detective, this officer investigates all major crimes involving youth such as: child abuse, child molest, child abduction, gang-related crimes, drug/alcohol offenses, school violence, and graffiti vandalism.

Educating the youth of Scotts Valley is a major component of the juvenile detective's position. The juvenile detective is also the department's D.A.R.E. officer and teaches the program at the elementary and middle school levels. He gives presentations to youth, parents, and school personnel on a wide range of topics including: gang awareness, drug/alcohol awareness, pedestrian and bicycle safety, stranger danger, and child abuse/molest warning signs. The juvenile detective also helps coordinate numerous youth programs throughout the year including Red Ribbon Week, the annual Ice Cream Social, and the Junior Police Academy.

Another component of the juvenile detective's job is conducting diversion's with the department's CSO. Our diversion program is an in-house program for counseling first-time offenders without placing them into a formal juvenile justice setting. After an arrestee has qualified for the program (first time minor offenses only) the juvenile detective or CSO will meet with the parents and juvenile at the department to complete a diversion contract. Consequences can include essays, community service hours, drug counseling, and California Youth Authority tours.