Can finger prints or photos of juveniles be taken?

Can finger prints or photos of juveniles be taken?

• A. Yes, always
• B. Yes, with supervisor approval
• C. No, unless consulting the SJA
• D. No, never

Answer: (C)

Biometric collection from youths requires careful legal authorization to protect their rights. The Staff Judge Advocate provides the legal review to confirm there’s a proper basis and that procedures comply with policy and law. You shouldn’t act on supervisor permission alone, and you shouldn’t rule it out entirely; you need the SJA’s guidance to determine whether collecting fingerprints or photos is permissible in the given situation. That’s why the correct approach is to consult the SJA before taking a juvenile’s biometric data.

Biometric collection from youths requires careful legal authorization to protect their rights. The Staff Judge Advocate provides the legal review to confirm there’s a proper basis and that procedures comply with policy and law. You shouldn’t act on supervisor permission alone, and you shouldn’t rule it out entirely; you need the SJA’s guidance to determine whether collecting fingerprints or photos is permissible in the given situation. That’s why the correct approach is to consult the SJA before taking a juvenile’s biometric data.