Section 41 in Chhattisgarh Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules, 2006
41. Special Juvenile Police Unit.
(1)The State Government shall create a minimum one Special Juvenile Police Unit at the district which shall operate as a Centre for Comprehensive First Contact Care for children under the Act.(2)Objective of the Special Juvenile Police Unit. - The objectives of the Special Juvenile Police Unit shall be as under. -(a)to identify and receive children at the point of First contact, undertake outreach work in the jurisdiction to identify children at risk and conduct home visits of children;(b)to build up a friendly relationship with the child so as to enable her/him to understand and share reasons for her/his present situation as well as to participate in a decision regarding proceedings concerning her/him;(c)to conduct an individualized quick assessment and inquiry and offer counselling, medical attention, recreation services as well as referral to detailed assessment and other services;(d)to provide Child Help Line and emergency outreach services through 1098;(e)to network with the Child Help Line of the area and all other recognized fit persons/institutions and voluntary organizations willing to assist in the work of the SJPU as well as directly link up with competent authorities and institutions under the Act coming under that jurisdiction;(f)to take on the role of the Child Friendly First Intervention Centres and perform the function of a Community Based Reception Unit of the Observation Home/Children's Home to receive, undertake preliminary inquiries, provide timely counseling and early intervention by operationalising the principle of diversion;(g)to co-ordinate and upgrade the police treatment towards children;(h)to operate a mobile Special Juvenile Police Unit which may be called upon by the concerned police station whenever a child is either apprehended or received under the Act;(i)to function as a place of safety for children;(j)any other tasks which the unit shall have to perform in the course of their ordinary duties in a child centered manner.(3)Location of Special Juvenile Police Unit. - The Special Juvenile Police Unit shall not be located within the precincts of a Police Station, but it shall be located within the premises of a space being utilized by a recognized voluntary organization or a public-educational institution or any such place. In addition mobile unit for the Special Juvenile Police Unit may be set up, which shall liaison with the respective jurisdictional Special Juvenile Police Unit.(4)Jurisdiction. - (a) The Special Juvenile Police Unit shall have the jurisdiction on a number of Police Stations in a particular zone as identified as necessary by the SJPU for taking into account the density of children at risk in the area by the Special Juvenile Police Unit. Every District shall have a minimum of one Special Juvenile Police Unit;(b)Affiliation to the Jurisdictional Police Station. - Every Special Juvenile Police Unit shall be affiliated to the nearest police station for documentation and for any specific assistance.(5)Staff of the Special Juvenile Police Unit. - (a) A Child Welfare Officer shall be designated in term of Section 63 of the Act not below the rank of Inspector or Sub-Inspector of Police;(b)The Juvenile Police Unit at the district level shall function under the supervision of a Child Welfare Officer and two Voluntary Social Workers of whom one shall be a woman and another preferably child expert or having relevant experience;(c)One Junior Social Worker who is qualified or experienced as a para professional with a minimum of one year experience in dealing directly with children in especially difficult circumstances. (One of these two Social Workers shall be a women);(d)A minimum of one Police constable who shall be a woman;(e)One helper;(f)Two youth counsellors taking on the role of 'friends of Children' who come to the Special Juvenile Police Unit;(g)One Police Officer;(h)Clothing to be worn by persons designated to deal with children under the Act. - Wherever possible, all such persons shall, except at the time of arrest, only wear civil clothes and not a uniform unless specific circumstances require the said Officer to wear a Police uniform in the interest of the child. However, they shall at all time have on their person, an identification that shall be produced on demand.(6)Management. - (a) Every Special Juvenile Police Unit may net work by a recognized voluntary organization having experience and training in directly working with children in especially difficult circumstances;(b)All Special Juvenile Police Unit's shall report directly to the Commissioner/ Superintendent of Police.(7)Procedure. - (a) The staff of the Special Juvenile Police Unit shall receive the child who has been identified as needing the services provided under the Act according to the principles outlined in these Rules and proceed to conduct preliminary inquiries and offer services that the child may need at this point of initial contact;(b)Special investigations and reports that are required to be undertaken by the Police shall be made in addition to which social investigation reports may also be made by the social workers of the Special Juvenile Police Unit. The social investigation report of the social worker attached to the Special Juvenile Police Unit may be considered;(c)Every police station shall display the main features of Juvenile Justice Act on the board in the entrance of the police station.(8)Missing Children's Bureau. - (a) The State Government shall set up a Missing Children's Bureau for documentation and publishing information relating to Missing Children. Computerized software shall be put in place to facilitate such a service. Attempts shall be made to network with all other similar facilities set up around the country so as to facilitate speedy scanning and transmission of information about such children around the country. This shall serve as a database of missing Children;(b)The Missing Children's Bureau shall be linked up to the Child Help Line wherever available as well as to all major Police Stations in each District;(c)All citizens found to be directly related to or otherwise authorised to access this information shall be allowed free access to this data base. Persons found to be abusing this database against the interests of children shall be investigated and the necessary action shall be taken.
