A. The court’s determination in the preliminary protective hearing may be based on evidence that is hearsay, in whole or in part, in the following forms:

Terms Used In Arizona Laws 8-825

  • Abuse: means the infliction or allowing of physical injury, impairment of bodily function or disfigurement or the infliction of or allowing another person to cause serious emotional damage as evidenced by severe anxiety, depression, withdrawal or untoward aggressive behavior and which emotional damage is diagnosed by a medical doctor or psychologist and is caused by the acts or omissions of an individual who has the care, custody and control of a child. See Arizona Laws 8-201
  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Custodian: means a person, other than a parent or legal guardian, who stands in loco parentis to the child or a person to whom legal custody of the child has been given by order of the juvenile court. See Arizona Laws 8-201
  • Department: means the department of child safety. See Arizona Laws 8-201
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Hearsay: Statements by a witness who did not see or hear the incident in question but heard about it from someone else. Hearsay is usually not admissible as evidence in court.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Person: includes a corporation, company, partnership, firm, association or society, as well as a natural person. See Arizona Laws 1-215
  • Petition: means a written statement of the essential facts that allege delinquency, incorrigibility or dependency. See Arizona Laws 8-201
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • worker: means a person who has been selected by and trained under the requirements prescribed by the department and who assists in carrying out the provisions of this article. See Arizona Laws 8-801

1. The allegations of the petition.

2. An affidavit.

3. Sworn testimony.

4. The written reports of expert witnesses.

5. The department‘s written reports if the child safety worker is present and available for cross-examination.

6. Documentary evidence without foundation if there is a substantial basis for believing the foundation will be available at the dependency hearing and the document is otherwise admissible.

7. The testimony of a witness concerning the declarations of another person if the evidence is cumulative or there is a reasonable ground to believe that the other person will be personally available for trial.

B. Evidence considered by the court pursuant to subsection A of this section shall also include any available evidence of substantiated allegations of abuse or neglect committed in another jurisdiction.

C. The court shall determine whether temporary custody of the child is clearly necessary to prevent abuse or neglect pending the hearing on the dependency petition. The court:

1. On finding that the petitioner has not met the burden prescribed in section 8-824, subsection F, shall return the child to the child’s parent, guardian or custodian pending the dependency hearing.

2. On finding that the petitioner has met the burden prescribed in section 8-824, subsection F, may declare the child a temporary ward of the court pending the dependency hearing.

D. The court shall also determine if reasonable efforts were made to prevent or eliminate the need for removal of a child from the child’s home and if services are available that would eliminate the need for continued removal. If the child is:

1. In the custody of the department, the court shall order the department to make reasonable efforts to provide services to the child and parent to facilitate the reunification of the family, except as provided in section 8-846.

2. Not in the custody of the department and the department is not a party, the court may direct the parties to participate in reasonable services that will facilitate reunification of the family or another permanent plan for the child. The court shall not require the department to provide services pursuant to this paragraph.

 

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