3226 – Interviews and Interrogations of Students on Program Premises
Although the NWESD 189 values its relationships with law enforcement, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF), and the county health department, to minimize interruption of the instructional program, the NWESD 189 discourages interviews and interrogations of students on program premises. As a general rule, interviews and interrogations by any agency, including law enforcement and the county health department(s), should take place at the agency or the student’s home, rather than program premises.
However, there are limited circumstances when an interview of students at the program is warranted, for example program-initiated investigations, child abuse investigations, and/or serious crime investigations. When an onsite interview or interrogation is warranted by the circumstances, the NWESD 189 will utilize the procedures and protocols associated with this policy, which were developed in cooperation with these agencies and ensure that students and parent(s)/guardian(s) are afforded all rights under law. The interviews of students as witnesses, victims, and suspects are treated differently.
In contrast to the limited circumstances noted above, the work of immigration agents does not overlap with the work or duties of the NWESD 189. This is because the NWESD 189’s obligation to educate the students in its programs is not diminished by the children or parents’ immigration status. The NWESD 189 supports the federal immigration and enforcement policy that directs immigration agents to avoid questioning and arrests at sensitive locations. Therefore, staff will not grant information or access to immigration agents unless/until the NWESD 189 Superintendent and/or NWESD 189 legal counsel determine the request complies with Plyler v. Doe and other applicable laws according to the criteria in the associated procedure.
First Reading: 08/28/13
Second Reading: 09/18/13
Revised: 01/23/19
Revised: 08/25/25
Reference:
RCW 26.44.030
RCW 26.44.050
RCW 26.44.110
RCW 26.44.115
RCW 28A.635.020
RCW 28A.605.005
Date Revised: 8/25/25