38-2386. Law enforcement power; special investigators. (a) The superintendent of any juvenile correctional facility operated by the commissioner, all persons on the staff of the juvenile justice authority who are in the chain of command from the commissioner of juvenile justice to the juvenile corrections officer and every juvenile corrections officer, regardless of rank and every investigator, while acting within the scope of their duties as employees of the juvenile justice authority, shall possess such powers and duties of a law enforcement officer as are necessary for performing such duties for the purpose of regaining or maintaining custody, security and control of any person in the custody of the commissioner and may exercise such powers and duties anywhere within the state of Kansas. Such powers and duties may be exercised outside the state of Kansas for the purpose of maintaining custody, security and control of any person in the custody of the commissioner being transported or escorted by anyone authorized to so act. Such employees of the juvenile justice authority shall be responsible to and shall be at all times under the supervision and control of the commissioner of juvenile justice or the commissioner's designee.

(b) The commissioner shall have the authority to appoint and designate special investigators. Each special investigator designated by the commissioner is hereby vested with the power and authority of peace and police officers and shall have the authority to:

(1) Make arrests;

(2) conduct searches and seizures;

(3) maintain custody, security and control of any person in the custody of the commissioner; and

(4) generally enforce all the criminal laws of the state as violations of those laws are encountered during the routine performance of duty.

(c) No special investigator may carry firearms while performing such duties without having first successfully completed the training course prescribed for law enforcement officers under the Kansas law enforcement training act, K.S.A. 74-5601 et seq., and amendments thereto.

(d) Each special investigator designated shall:

(1) Be vested with law enforcement authority;

(2) be in classified service under the Kansas civil service act; and

(3) be subject to the requirements of the Kansas law enforcement training act, K.S.A. 74-5601 et seq., and amendments thereto.

(e) The commissioner may adopt rules and regulations prescribing additional training required for such special investigators.

History: L. 2006, ch. 169, § 86; L. 2012, ch. 56, § 1; July 1.