2011 Wyoming Statutes
TITLE 14 - CHILDREN
CHAPTER 6 - JUVENILES
14-6-409. Taking of child into custody; informal hearing where no court order; conditional release; evidence; rehearing.

(a) When a child is placed in detention or shelter care without a court order, a petition as provided in W.S. 14-6-412 shall be promptly filed and presented to the court. An informal detention or shelter care hearing shall be held as soon as reasonably possible not later than forty-eight (48) hours, excluding weekends and legal holidays, after the child is taken into custody to determine if further detention or shelter care is required pending further court action. The child shall be interviewed by the department or its designee prior to the detention or shelter care hearing, but in no event later than twenty-four (24) hours, excluding weekends and legal holidays, after the child is taken into custody. The department or its designee shall submit a written report of the interview to the court, including an assessment of the immediate needs of the child and a recommendation for the most appropriate placement for the child pending court disposition or execution of a court order for placement or commitment. Written notice stating the time, place and purpose of the hearing shall be given to the child and to his parents, guardian or custodian.

(b) At the commencement of the hearing the judge shall advise the child and his parents, guardian or custodian of:

(i) The contents of the petition and the nature of the allegations contained therein;

(ii) Their right to counsel as provided in W.S. 14-6-422;

(iii) The right to confront and cross-examine witnesses or to present witnesses or evidence in their own behalf and the right to issuance of process by the court to compel the appearance of witnesses and the production of evidence;

(iv) The right to a jury trial as provided in W.S. 14-6-423; and

(v) The right to appeal as provided in W.S. 14-6-432.

(c) The child shall be given an opportunity to admit or deny the allegations in the petition. If the allegations are admitted, the court shall make the appropriate adjudication and may proceed immediately to a disposition of the case, provided the court has the predisposition report and multidisciplinary recommendations, in accordance with the provisions of W.S. 14-6-429, except that a commissioner acting in the absence or incapacity of the judge may take testimony to establish a factual basis and accept an admission and perform all other requirements of the initial hearing but shall not proceed to disposition. If denied, the court shall set a time not to exceed sixty (60) days for an adjudicatory hearing, unless the court finds good cause to delay or postpone the hearing. In no case shall the court hold the adjudicatory hearing more than ninety (90) days after the date the petition is filed.

(d) Regardless of whether the allegations in the petition are admitted or denied, the court shall determine whether or not the child's full-time detention or shelter care is required pending further proceedings. If the court finds that returning the child to the home is contrary to the welfare of the child, the court shall enter the finding on the record and order the child placed in the legal custody of the department of family services. The court shall explain the terms of the court order to the child, his parents or legal guardian and any other person the court deems necessary. If the court finds that full-time detention or shelter care is not required, the court shall order the child released and may impose one (1) or more of the following conditions:

(i) Place the child in the custody and supervision of his parents, guardian or custodian, under the protective supervision of the department of family services or under the supervision of any individual or organization approved by the court that agrees to supervise the child;

(ii) Place restrictions on the child's travel, associates, activities or place of abode during the period of his release, including a requirement that the child return to the physical custody of his parents, guardian or custodian at specified hours; or

(iii) Impose any other terms and conditions of release deemed reasonably necessary to assure the appearance of the child at subsequent proceedings or necessary to his protection from harm.

(e) All relevant and material evidence helpful in determining the need for detention or shelter care may be admitted by the court even though not competent in an adjudicatory hearing on the allegations of the petition.

(f) If a child is not released after a detention or shelter care hearing and it appears by sworn statement of the parents, guardian or custodian that they did not receive notice and did not waive notice and appearance at the hearing, the court shall rehear the matter without delay.