Chapter 5 – Adult Custody and Security Operations

54020.14.3 Searching of Minors

• The accompanying parent or legal guardian of the minor must consent to, and shall be permitted to, witness the search. The procedure to search a minor is as follows:

  • A custody supervisor and at least one other staff member of the same sex of the minor shall be present during the search.

  • Care shall be exercised not to traumatize the minor(s) being searched.

• If personal contact is necessary to facilitate the search, it shall be performed by the parent or legal guardian at the direction of, and to the satisfaction of, the searching officer. If a minor experiences difficulty in comprehending instructions, the parent or legal guardian shall be utilized to relay instructions.

• Simultaneous searches of minors of the opposite sex in the same area is prohibited.

• If necessary, visiting staff shall supervise minors while separate searches are conducted.