(a) A police officer, Child Protective Services social worker or physician shall assume protective custody of a child without a court order and without the consent of the child’s family regardless of whether the child’s family is absent if, in the discretion of such police officer, Child Protective Services social worker or physician, the child is in such circumstances or condition that the child’s continuing in the custody or care of the person responsible for the child’s welfare presents a situation of harm or threatened harm to the child.

(b) A police officer or physician who assumes protective custody of a child who is harmed or threatened with harm shall immediately transfer protective custody to Child Protective

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Services by presenting physical custody of the child to Child Protective Services, unless the child is or presently will be admitted to a hospital or similar institution, in which case the police officer or physician shall immediately transfer protective custody to Child Protective Services by so informing Child Protective Services and receiving an acknowledgment from the hospital or similar institution that it has been informed that the child is under the protective custody of Child Protective Services.

(c) When Child Protective Services receives physical custody of a child pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, Child Protective Services shall assume protective custody of a child without an order of the court and without the consent of the child’s family regardless of whether the child’s family is absent if, in the discretion of Child Protective Services, the child is in such circumstance or condition that the child’s continuing in the custody or care of the child’s family presents a situation of harm or threatened harm to the child.

(d) Upon assuming protective custody of a child under this Chapter, any authorized individual taking a child into protective custody shall immediately and within 24 hours, orally and in writing, notify the person responsible for the child’s welfare, the reasons for the need to take the child into protective custody and shall immediately notify Child Protective Services.

(e) Upon assuming protective custody of a child under this Chapter, Child Protective Services shall place the child in a home approved by Child Protective Services unless the child is admitted to a hospital or similar institution, and obtain a verbal ex parte order from the court for temporary custody while Child Protective Services or the Guam Police Department conducts an appropriate investigation.

(f) Children appearing to suffer any physical or mental trauma which may constitute harm or threatened harm shall be admitted to and treated in appropriate facilities of private and public hospitals, with or without the consent of the child’s family, on the basis of medical need and shall not be refused or deprived in any way of proper medical treatment and care.

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(g) If a child has been taken into protective custody, within one day of Child Protective Services’ assumption of protective custody, excluding Saturday, Sunday and holidays, Child Protective Services shall file a declaration with the court in support of an ex parte order and obtain a written order to extend protective custody beyond the one working day.

(h) In no case shall protective custody be maintained longer than three working days without a preliminary hearing. If at the hearing it is determined that protective custody shall be continued, Child Protective Services shall, within 48 hours of the time of the hearing, file a petition with the Superior Court of Guam pursuant to § 13305.

(i) A conference between the person responsible for the welfare of a child taken into protective custody pursuant to this section and the social worker designated by Child Protective Services to be responsible for such child shall be held within two working days if possible from the time that the child is taken into such custody for the purposes of explaining to such person the reasons for the protective custody of the child and the whereabouts of the child is appropriate, and to expedite, wherever possible, the return of the child to the custody of such person when protective custody is no longer necessary.

§ 13303. Authorization for Photographs, X-rays and
Radiological or Other Diagnostic Examination.

(a) Any health professional or paraprofessional, physician licensed or authorized to practice medicine in Guam, registered nurse or licensed practical nurse, hospital or similar institution’s personnel engaged in the admission, examination, care or treatment of patients, medical examiner, coroner, social worker or police officer, who has a child whom the person reasonably believes has been harmed, shall make every good faith effort to take or cause to be taken color photographs of the areas of trauma visible on the child. If medically indicated, such person may take or cause to be taken x-rays of the child or cause a radiological or other diagnostic examination to be performed on the child.

(b) Color photographs, x-rays, radiological or other diagnostic examination reports which show evidence of imminent

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harm or threatened harm to a child shall be immediately forwarded to Child Protective Services.