When a juvenile is released to their own custody, what is the officer required to do?

• A. File a report with the court within 24 hours.
• B. Make a reasonable effort to notify the parent of the court date.
• C. Notify the juvenile's school principal.
• D. Take the juvenile to a parent-teacher conference.

Answer: (B)

When a juvenile is released to their own custody, the officer’s duty is to ensure the parent or guardian is informed about the upcoming court date. This obligation is about keeping the parent engaged in the legal process and helping ensure the juvenile appears in court. “Reasonable effort” means using the best available contact information to reach the parent—calling, texting, leaving messages, or notifying an alternate guardian if the primary contact can’t be reached—and documenting the attempts. This requirement supports accountability and orderly court proceedings.

Filing a report with the court within 24 hours isn’t the targeted duty in this scenario, and notifying a school principal or taking the juvenile to a parent-teacher conference aren’t appropriate steps for this release-to-custody procedure.