Lakewood Police Department
Policy and Procedure

 Effective Date: 12/15/2023
Policy Number: PP-4002 - Arrest Standards


 A. Policy

 One of the management techniques adopted by the department, in its efforts to best utilize its available resources, is the implementation of arrest standards guidelines.  The arrest standards guidelines define the authority and circumstances when sworn personnel may exercise discretion and select alternatives to arrest and confinement.  The arrest standards guidelines will provide better utilization of police resources in the arrest, booking, and jail processing of criminal suspects.

 B. Procedure

 Arrest Standards Guidelines:

1. Non-arrest 
 
 a. No charge filed.

Those situations where the offense is verified, and the participants identified but no charges will be filed.  The situation is considered resolved by the officer at the scene.

 (1) Informal Resolution/Victim Restitution
 (2) Hostile Victim/Witness
 (3) Conditional Violations unless court ordered

 b. Charge Open For Review

Those situations where charges might not be filed due to conditional or mitigating circumstances.  Assessment of the likelihood of conviction of the defendant is the primary consideration.

 (1) Probable Victim/Witness F.T.A.
 (2) Relationship between Offender - Victim/Witness
 (3) Informant Status
 (4) Questionable/Weak I.D. by Victim/Witness
 (5) Improper/Questionable Motives of Victim/Witness
 (6) Affirmative Defenses
 (7) Victim Instigated or Involved in Offense
 (8) Witness Instigated or Involved in Offense
 (9) Degree of Culpability
 (10) Intent

 c. Charges Pending

Formal charging of a criminal act is probable, however, further case development requirements coupled with low F.T.A. probability justify non-arrest at time of initial processing.

 (1) Evidence - Quantity/Quality
 
 2. Arrest
 
 a. Release with charges

 Formal charging of defendant concurrent with formal processing other than incarceration in the county jail.

(1) Alternate lodging
 
(a) Mental Health
 
 (b) Detoxification for Alcohol/Drugs
 
 (c) Hospitalization
 
 (2) Summons and Complaint
 
(a) Officer summons
 
 1) Municipal ordinance
 
 2) Petty offense
 
 3) Misdemeanor
 
 4) Felony Summons
 
 (b) D.A. Summons
 
 b. Incarceration
 
 Formal charging of a defendant concurrent with lodging in the county jail.
 
 (1) Appearance Risk
 
(a) Lack of positive I.D.
 
(b) Warrant / holds
 
(c) Probable F.T.A.
 
 (2) Protection
 
 (a) Risk of continuation of offense (Victim-society-officer)
 
 1) Protection from further injury
 
 2) Protection from further property damage
 
 (b) Degree of defendant non-cooperation
 
 (3) Seriousness of Offense
 
(a) Incarceration required by law (domestic violence, etc.)
 
(b) Felonies - Crimes not appropriate for D.A. summons
 
(c) Suspect in additional felonies
 





NEXT:   PP-4003 - Arrests of Foreign Nationals