Each child who is admitted to a treatment facility under section 16-2413, Idaho Code, shall, within twenty-four (24) hours of being taken into protective custody, be released to his parent or guardian, unless a court order authorizing emergency evaluation has been obtained.
(1)  The evidence supporting the claim that an emergency exists with respect to the child shall be submitted to a court of competent jurisdiction. If the court finds that an emergency situation exists, it shall issue an order for emergency evaluation, which shall authorize the treatment facility to hold the child for up to forty-eight (48) hours at which time he shall be released to his parent or guardian, unless valid consent to voluntary treatment has been obtained under section 16-2407, Idaho Code, or other legal authority is sought to hold the child.

Terms Used In Idaho Code 16-2414

  • Child: means an individual less than eighteen (18) years of age and not emancipated by either marriage or legal proceeding. See Idaho Code 16-2403
  • Department: means the department of health and welfare. See Idaho Code 16-2403
  • Emergency: means a situation in which the child’s condition, as evidenced by recent behavior, poses a significant threat to the health or safety of the child, his family or others, or poses a serious risk of substantial deterioration in the child’s condition which cannot be eliminated by the use of supportive services or intervention by the child’s parents, or mental health professionals, and treatment in the community while the child remains in his family home. See Idaho Code 16-2403
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Treatment facility: means a facility or program meeting applicable licensing standards that has been approved for the provisions of services under this chapter by the department of health and welfare. See Idaho Code 16-2403
(2)  Each child and parent shall also be informed orally and in writing by the evaluation facility of the purposes and the possible consequences of the proceedings, the allegations in the petition, the child’s right to communicate with an attorney, and the right to receive necessary and appropriate treatment.
(3)  At all stages of the proceeding the court shall consider whether treatment may be voluntarily obtained by the child and his family. If the treatment can be voluntarily obtained, the petition shall be dismissed.
(4)  The court may also order that the prosecuting attorney of the county review the appropriateness of the case for filing a petition under the child protective act or the juvenile corrections act.
(5)  A child shall not be admitted under this section to a facility operated by the department unless evaluated and authorized by a staff of the regional family and children’s services program.