(A) No child who has been admitted involuntarily to a treatment facility or program may be moved from a less restrictive program to a more restrictive program without court approval. Court approval is not mandatory for moves from more restrictive to less restrictive programs. The court must be notified within twenty-four hours when a child is moved from one program to another.

(B) A child who has been admitted involuntarily to a treatment facility or program may be placed in community crisis stabilization without court approval for not more than five days. The head of the facility in which the child is placed shall inform the court within three days of placement. Court approval is mandatory to extend the period of crisis stabilization beyond the five days and for each successive five- day extension.

Terms Used In South Carolina Code 44-24-190

  • Child: means a person under the age of eighteen years. See South Carolina Code 44-24-10
  • Court: means the probate court unless otherwise specified. See South Carolina Code 44-24-10
  • Crisis stabilization: means a short term placement to enable a child who has lost control to regain control in order to be returned to his previous placement or to an appropriate treatment facility or program. See South Carolina Code 44-24-10

(C) If the child has not been returned to an appropriate treatment program or facility within ten days of being placed in crisis stabilization, the court shall hold a review hearing within fifteen days of the crisis stabilization placement to determine and order the appropriate program for the child.