Cranford Police Department 2011 Annual Report - Cranford.com

Juvenile Bureau
Cranford Police Department Investigative Division
The Juvenile Bureau offers an informal
atmosphere conducive to creating a positive
interaction between juveniles, parents, and
the Cranford Police Department. Parents
are critical in fostering positive moral and
social character development. Parents need
to ask questions, make suggestions, console,
comfort, support, encourage, discuss, teach,
befriend, communicate, trust and respect
their children. A parent who is actively
involved their child’s life does make a
difference. In 2011 the Cranford Police
Department Juvenile Bureau consisted of
Detective Sergeant Christopher Polito,
Detective John Swandrak, and Detective
Michael Andrews. In May of 2011 the
Juvenile Bureau moved from Cleveland Plaza
back to Cranford Police Headquarters.
The responsibilities and functions relating to
juvenile delinquency, deterrence, and
enforcement are exercised through the
Family Court, Union County Prosecutor’s
Office and departmental policies. The goals
of the Juvenile Justice System are:
To ensure that public safety is protected.
To rehabilitate the juvenile so that he or
she can grow into a resourceful and
productive person who will contribute
positively to society.
To hold the juvenile accountable for his
or her acts.
All cases assigned to the Juvenile Bureau are
handled by a follow-up investigation, which
may result in the signing of juvenile
complaints. Juveniles are taken into custody
to protect the health, morals and well being
of the juvenile. Juveniles are not arrested.
All investigations and complaints are
handled individually and impartially. Many
times, formal involvement in the juvenile
justice system is unwarranted and may even
be counterproductive. Juvenile officers
attempt to resolve minor incidents without
the need to file a complaint with the court.
In these cases, the victim is given the
opportunity to have input as to the final
resolution of the matter. The officers, in
agreement with the victim, juvenile
offender, and their families, fashion the
juvenile’s consequences specifically to the
needs of the involved parties. In these
instances, the matter is resolved swiftly and
to the satisfaction of the victim, the police,
and the juvenile and their family.
The purpose of diverting juvenile offenders
from appearing before the Family Court in
Elizabeth is to seek the help specifically
designed to educate and rehabilitate the
individual. During the past year, juvenile
offenders have been referred to the Fire
Setter Program of the Cranford Fire
Department, the Trinitas Mental Hygiene
Unit, the Carrier Clinic, the High Focus
Center, and the S.E.R.V. Center. The Juvenile
Bureau has an excellent working relationship
with school officials.
The Union County Youth Service Bureau -
Crisis Intervention Unit serves as a
mediation mechanism designed to preserve
the unity of the family, whenever possible,
and to secure for each child the appropriate
care, guidance and control in the best
interest of the child’s welfare. Last year, 12
referrals were made to the Division of Youth
and Family services. The Union County
Youth Service Bureau has added several
programs that have helped the Juvenile
Bureau with Stationhouse Adjustments.
Cranford Police Department—2011 Annual Report 21