2005 Arizona Revised Statutes - Revised Statutes §8-821  Taking into temporary custody; medical examination; placement; interference; classification

A. A child shall be taken into temporary custody in proceedings to declare a child a temporary ward of the court to protect the child, pursuant to an order of the juvenile court on a petition by an interested person, a peace officer or a child protective services worker under oath that reasonable grounds exist to believe that temporary custody is clearly necessary to protect the child from suffering abuse or neglect. If a child is taken into temporary custody pursuant to this section, the child's sibling shall also be taken into temporary custody only if reasonable grounds independently exist to believe that temporary custody is clearly necessary to protect the child from suffering abuse or neglect.

B. A child may be taken into temporary custody by a peace officer or a child protective services worker if temporary custody is clearly necessary to protect the child because probable cause exists to believe that the child is either:

1. A victim or will imminently become a victim of abuse or neglect.

2. Suffering serious physical or emotional injury that can only be diagnosed by a medical doctor or psychologist.

3. Physically injured as a result of living on premises where dangerous drugs or narcotic drugs are being manufactured. For the purposes of this paragraph, "dangerous drugs" and "narcotic drugs" have the same meaning prescribed in section 13-3401.

C. In determining if a child should be taken into temporary custody, the interested person, peace officer or child protective services worker may take into consideration as a mitigating factor the participation of the parent or guardian in the healthy families program established by section 8-701.

D. In determining if a child should be taken into temporary custody, the interested person, peace officer or child protective services worker shall take into consideration:

1. As a paramount concern the child's health and safety and shall consider as a mitigating factor the availability of reasonable services to the parent or guardian to prevent or eliminate the need for removal of the child and the effort of the parent or guardian to obtain and participate in these services.

2. Whether the parent is willing to participate in services provided pursuant to section 8-830.

E. A person who takes a child into custody pursuant to subsection B, paragraph 2 of this section shall immediately have the child examined by a medical doctor or psychologist. After the examination the person shall release the child to the custody of the parent or guardian of the child unless the examination reveals abuse or neglect. Temporary custody of a child taken into custody pursuant to subsection B, paragraph 2 of this section shall not exceed twelve hours.

F. A child who is taken into temporary custody pursuant to this article shall not be detained in a police station, jail or lockup where adults charged with or convicted of a crime are detained.

G. A child shall not remain in temporary custody for more than seventy-two hours excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays unless a dependency petition is filed.

H. A person who knowingly interferes with the taking of a child into temporary custody under this section is guilty of a class 2 misdemeanor.