2005 Connecticut Code - Sec. 46b-150g. Duties of police officer re youth in crisis.

      Sec. 46b-150g. Duties of police officer re youth in crisis. (a) Any police officer who receives a report from the parent or guardian of a youth in crisis, as defined in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (3) of section 46b-120, shall attempt to locate the youth in crisis. If the officer locates such youth in crisis, such officer shall report the location of the youth to the parent or guardian in accordance with the provisions of federal and state law after such officer determines that such report does not place the youth in any physical or emotional harm. In addition, the police officer shall respond in one of the following ways: (1) Transport the youth in crisis to the home of the child's parent or guardian or a suitable and worthy adult; (2) refer the youth in crisis to the probate court in the district where the youth in crisis is located, provided the probate judge for such probate court is willing to accept the referral; (3) hold the youth in crisis in protective custody for a maximum period of twelve hours until the officer can determine a more suitable disposition of the matter, provided (A) the youth in crisis is not held in any cell designed or used for adults, and (B) the officer may release the youth in crisis to the parent or guardian of the youth if the officer determines that returning the youth does not place the youth in any physical or emotional harm; (4) transport or refer a youth in crisis to any public or private agency serving children, with or without the agreement of the youth in crisis; (5) refer the youth in crisis to a youth service bureau, provided one exists in the local community; or (6) if the police officer is unable to transport, refer or hold the youth in crisis pursuant to subdivisions (1) to (5), inclusive, of this subsection, refer the youth in crisis to the superior court for juvenile matters in the district where the youth in crisis is located. If a youth in crisis is transported or referred to an agency pursuant to this section, such agency shall provide temporary services to the youth in crisis unless or until the parent or guardian of the youth in crisis at any time refuses to agree to those services.

      (b) Any police officer acting in accordance with the provisions of this section shall be deemed to be acting in the course of the police officer's official duties.

      (P.A. 00-177, S. 4, 5; P.A. 03-257, S. 3.)

      History: P.A. 00-177 effective July 1, 2001; P.A. 03-257 amended Subsec. (a) by adding reference to Sec. 46b-120(3)(A), replacing "may" with "shall" re duties of police officer to attempt to locate, report the location and respond, replacing "any other person" with "a suitable and worthy adult" in Subdiv. (1), replacing provision re referral to superior court with provisions re referral to probate court in Subdiv. (2), replacing provision re release at any time without further action with provision re release to parent or guardian if youth not placed in physical or emotional harm in Subdiv. (3)(B), adding Subdiv. (5) re referral to youth service bureau and adding Subdiv. (6) re referral to superior court, and amended Subsec. (b) by making a technical change.