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.
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 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)
Related Missouri laws
Venue
RSMo 565.163
Defenses to interference with custody, parental kidnapping, and child abduction
RSMo 565.160
Child abduction
RSMo 565.156
Parental kidnapping
RSMo 565.153
Abuse of an elderly person, a person with disability, or a vulnerable person
RSMo 565.184
Interference with custody
RSMo 565.150
Legal information, not legal advice. Always confirm with the official source at revisor.mo.gov.