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Crimes Against People
RSMo 565.167effective 28 Aug 1988

Custody of child

In plain English

When a police officer is looking into a possible child custody violation, the officer can take the child into temporary protective custody if it looks like someone might run off with the child. If the child is found with the accused person or someone else, the officer gives the child back to the parent or legal guardian the child was taken from — unless there is a good reason to keep the child in protective custody instead.

Word-for-word law

565.167. of child — to take child into , when. — 1. A peace officer investigating a report of a violation of section 565.150, or section 565.153 or 565.156, may take the child into temporary protective custody if it reasonably appears to the officer that any person will flee the with the child.

2. If during the course of an investigation under section 565.150, or section 565.153 or 565.156, the child is found in the of the or another, the shall the child to the parent or from whom the child was concealed, or , unless there is for the law enforcement officer to retain temporary protective custody of the child section 210.125.

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Source & history notes

(L. 1988 H.B. 1272, et al. § 7)

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Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.

RSMo 565.167: Custody of child | KnowMo Laws