Description of Juvenile Court Dependency Process

Juvenile Court Dependency, involving protection of minors through removal from parental custody and adjudication of Court Dependency, is prescribed by Welfare and Institutions Code, Section 300.

Basic reasons minors may become Dependents are:

Minors suffering, or having substantial risk of suffering, serious physical harm inflicted nonaccidentally by parent/guardian.
Minors suffering serious physical harm or illness, due to failure of parent to adequately supervise/protect minor, or negligent failure of parent to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical treatment, or inability of parent to provide regular care due to parents' mental illness, developmental disability, or substance abuse.
Minors suffering serious emotional damage (severe anxiety, depression, aggressive behavior toward self/others) as result of conduct of parent.
Minors suffering sexual abuse by parent, or parent fails to protect minor from sexual abuse.
Minor left without support as result of parents' incarceration/institutionalization, or parent unwilling to provide care.

Protection of minor shall focus on the preservation of the family whenever possible.
Further, nothing in Section 300 is intended to limit the offering of voluntary services to those families in need of assistance but who do not come within the descriptions.

Whenever a minor is removed from parents' custody, the Juvenile Court shall order provision of services, through Child Welfare, to facilitate reunification of the family. If reunification is not possible, the Juvenile Court shall order an appropriate stable plan for the minor's care, including adoption, guardianship, or long-term foster care.

Outline of Juvenile Dependency Process

Below is a graphical representation of the Court Process:

Removal of Minor from caretaker:

ProtectiveCustody: 72 hour hold placed by law enforcement, removing minor from condition of risk.
Criminal citation and/or arrest of caretaker may occur.
Medical evaluation of all minors under age of two, and/or minors requiring medical intervention.
Minor placed at Children's Receiving Home or Emergency Foster Care.

Investigation by Dependent Intake Unit

In first 48 hours (of 72 hour hold) the allegations of risk are investigated.
Based on investigation, case resolution is determined:

Case dismissed; minors returned to caretaker.
Case dismissed, minor returned to caretaker with specified, contracted services to family.
Petition for Dependency filed on behalf of minor.

Intake Report generated to document basis of case dismissal and/or referral of services, or to justify legal evidence of Dependency Petition.

Process of Petitioning Dependency

A. Detention Hearing: Held at end of 72 hours; based on Intake Report, Judge rules regarding evidence for continued detention of minor; minor is either released or detained, pending Jurisdictional Hearing.
B. If minor detained: Court investigation begun; Court report generated addressing family history/dynamics, continued risk to minor, recommendations for placement, and reunification plan.
C. Jurisdictional Hearing: Held not longer than 15 judicial days following Detention Hearing; based on Court report, Judge rules regarding evidence for Dependency; minor is either released or adjudicated a Dependent.
D. If minor adjudicated a Dependent: Disposition Hearing is held immediately following Jurisdictional hearing; based on court report, Judge rules regarding placement of minor and specific court orders for reunification.