Texas Family Code 58.0021 – Fingerprints or Photographs for Comparison in Investigation
(a) A law enforcement officer may take temporary custody of a child to take the child’s fingerprints if:
(1) the officer has probable cause to believe that the child has engaged in delinquent conduct;
(2) the officer has investigated that conduct and has found other fingerprints during the investigation; and
(3) the officer has probable cause to believe that the child’s fingerprints will match the other fingerprints.
(b) A law enforcement officer may take temporary custody of a child to take the child’s photograph, or may obtain a photograph of a child from a juvenile probation department in possession of a photograph of the child, if:
(1) the officer has probable cause to believe that the child has engaged in delinquent conduct; and
(2) the officer has probable cause to believe that the child’s photograph will be of material assistance in the investigation of that conduct.
Terms Used In Texas Family Code 58.0021
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- Justice: when applied to a magistrate, means justice of the peace. See Texas Government Code 312.011
- Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
- Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
(c) Temporary custody for the purpose described by Subsection (a) or (b):
(1) is not a taking into custody under § 52.01; and
(2) may not be reported to the juvenile justice information system under Subchapter B.
(d) If a law enforcement officer does not take the child into custody under § 52.01, the child shall be released from temporary custody authorized under this section as soon as the fingerprints or photographs are obtained.
(e) A law enforcement officer who under this section obtains fingerprints or photographs from a child shall:
(1) immediately destroy them if they do not lead to a positive comparison or identification; and
(2) make a reasonable effort to notify the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian of the action taken.
(f) A law enforcement officer may under this section obtain fingerprints or photographs from a child at:
(1) a juvenile processing office; or
(2) a location that affords reasonable privacy to the child.