07/17/2025
We are closely monitoring the developments at the state level that affect our work with Juveniles and our SRO program at RCS. We appreciate Mass Chiefs for bringing practical recommendations to the table.
MCOPA Continues to Speak on Massachusetts POST Commission Draft Juvenile Operations Standards
Today, our General Counsel, Eric Atstupenas, spoke to the Massachusetts Municipal Police Training Committee (MPTC) to present the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association’s perspective on the Massachusetts POST Commission’s Draft Juvenile Operations Standard (555 CMR 13.00).
Atty Atstupenas reinforced that MCOPA fully supports the goal of improving outcomes for youth through developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed, and bias-free policing. Many of our departments already reflect these best practices every day, particularly those accredited by the Massachusetts Police Accreditation Commission.
However, he also raised serious concerns about how the proposed regulation goes far beyond setting minimum standards. As Atty Atstupenas explained:
“First, the regulation goes well beyond setting minimum standards. It mandates the detailed content of department-level operational policies - from how and when officers transport juveniles, to how they should respond to rare scenarios like immigration enforcement or service of parental rights petitions. In our view, this exceeds POST’s authority under Chapter 6E, and raises legal questions about local control and management rights.”
Atty Atstupenas also emphasized:
“Operationally, the regulation will be incredibly difficult for small and mid-sized departments to implement. The gender-matching transport provision, for instance, may be functionally impossible for departments with one officer per shift. Requiring constant direct supervision of juveniles in custody and extensive sub-policy creation is a significant logistical and staffing burden.”
He concluded with a call for collaboration, stating:
"MCOPA’s recommendations are practical and rooted in partnership. We’re not asking for the standard to be discarded. Rather, we are urging the Commission to revise the regulation to make it legally sound, operationally feasible, and practically useful to the departments who will be charged with implementing it."
That’s why MCOPA is urging the Commission to:
- Narrow the regulation’s scope to true minimum standards,
- Collaborate closely with the MPTC,
- Clarify vague provisions, and
- Provide model policies and support to help departments comply.
We thank the MPTC for hearing our concerns and for their leadership in officer training. We look forward to continued dialogue with POST to help shape standards that strengthen community trust, protect youth, and respect operational realities.
