Section 728. Discharge, release or detention by judge after hearing and before filing of petition in custody cases  


Latest version.
  • (a) If a child in custody is
      brought before a judge of the family court before a petition  is  filed,
      the  judge  shall hold a hearing for the purpose of making a preliminary
      determination of whether the court appears to have jurisdiction over the
      child. At the commencement of the hearing, the judge  shall  advise  the
      child  of  his  right  to  remain silent, his right to be represented by
      counsel of his own choosing, and of his right to  have  a  law  guardian
      assigned  in  accord  with part four of article two of this act. He must
      also allow the child a reasonable time to send for his parents or  other
      person  legally  responsible  for his care, and for counsel, and adjourn
      the hearing for that purpose.
        (b) After hearing, the judge shall order the release of the  child  to
      the  custody  of  his parent or other person legally responsible for his
      care if the court does not appear to have jurisdiction.
        (c) An order of release under this  section  may,  but  need  not,  be
      conditioned  upon  the  giving of a recognizance in accord with sections
      seven hundred twenty-four (b) (i).
        (d) Upon a finding of facts and  reasons  which  support  a  detention
      order pursuant to this section, the court shall also determine and state
      in any order directing detention:
        (i)  that there is no substantial likelihood that the youth and his or
      her family will continue to benefit from diversion services and that all
      available alternatives to detention have been exhausted; and
        (ii) whether continuation of the child in the child's  home  would  be
      contrary  to the best interests of the child based upon, and limited to,
      the facts and circumstances available to the court at the  time  of  the
      hearing held in accordance with this section; and
        (iii) where appropriate, whether reasonable efforts were made prior to
      the  date  of the court hearing that resulted in the detention order, to
      prevent or eliminate the need for removal of the child from his  or  her
      home or, if the child had been removed from his or her home prior to the
      court  appearance  pursuant  to this section, where appropriate, whether
      reasonable efforts were made to make it possible for the child to safely
      return home.