C.R.S. Section 19-3-501
Petition initiation

  • preliminary investigation
  • informal adjustment

(1)

Whenever it appears to a law enforcement officer or other person that a child is or appears to be within the court’s jurisdiction, as provided in this article 3, the law enforcement officer or other person may refer the matter to the court, which shall make a preliminary investigation to determine whether the interests of the child or of the community require that further action be taken. The probation department, county department of human or social services, or any other agency designated by the court shall make the investigation. On the basis of the preliminary investigation, the court may:

(a)

Decide that no further action is required, either in the interests of the public or of the child;

(b)

Authorize a petition to be filed; or

(c)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(I)

Make whatever informal adjustment is practicable without a petition if:

(A)

The child and his parents, guardian, or other legal custodian were informed of their constitutional and legal rights, including being represented by counsel at every stage of the proceedings;

(B)

The facts are admitted and establish prima facie jurisdiction; except that such admission shall not be used in evidence if a petition is filed; and

(C)

Written consent is obtained from the parents, guardian, or other legal custodian and also from the child, if of sufficient age and understanding.

(II)

Efforts to effect informal adjustment may extend no longer than six months.

(2)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

Upon receipt of a report filed by a law enforcement agency, or any other person required to report pursuant to section 19-3-304 (2) indicating that a child has suffered abuse as defined in section 19-1-103 (1) and that the best interests of the child require that he be protected from risk of further such abuse, the court shall then authorize and may order the filing of a petition.

(b)

Upon receipt of a report, as described in paragraph (a) of this subsection (2), from any person other than those specified in said paragraph (a), the court, after such investigation as may be reasonable under the circumstances, may authorize and may order the filing of a petition.

Source: Section 19-3-501 — Petition initiation - preliminary investigation - informal adjustment, https://leg.­colorado.­gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2023-title-19.­pdf (accessed Oct. 20, 2023).

19‑3‑100.5
Legislative declarations - reasonable efforts - movement of children and sibling groups
19‑3‑102
Neglected or dependent child
19‑3‑103
Child not neglected - when
19‑3‑104
Hearings - procedure
19‑3‑201
Venue
19‑3‑201.5
Change of venue - county department and county attorney responsibilities - rules
19‑3‑202
Right to counsel and jury trial
19‑3‑203
Right to guardian ad litem and counsel for youth
19‑3‑205
Continuing jurisdiction
19‑3‑206
Representation of petitioner
19‑3‑207
Inadmissibility of certain evidence
19‑3‑208
Services - county required to provide - out-of-home placement options - rules - definitions
19‑3‑209
Individual case plan - required
19‑3‑210.5
Foster parents’ bill of rights
19‑3‑211
Conflict resolution process - rules - definitions
19‑3‑212
Notice of rights and remedies for families
19‑3‑213
Placement criteria
19‑3‑214
Placement reporting
19‑3‑215
Foster care - capacity may be exceeded for sibling groups
19‑3‑216
Rules
19‑3‑217
Family time upon removal - rules
19‑3‑301
Short title
19‑3‑302
Legislative declaration
19‑3‑304
Persons required to report child abuse or neglect
19‑3‑304.2
Mandatory reporter task force - creation - reporting - definitions - repeal
19‑3‑304.3
Domestic abuse task force - creation - best practices and training for recognition of domestic abuse as child abuse or neglect - policies and procedures - rules
19‑3‑304.5
Emergency possession of certain abandoned children - definition
19‑3‑305
Required report of postmortem investigation
19‑3‑306
Evidence of abuse - color photographs and X rays
19‑3‑307
Reporting procedures
19‑3‑308
Action upon report of intrafamilial, institutional, or third-party abuse - investigations - child protection team - rules - report
19‑3‑308.3
Differential response program for child abuse or neglect cases of low or moderate risk - rules - evaluation
19‑3‑308.5
Recorded interviews of child
19‑3‑309
Immunity from liability - persons reporting
19‑3‑309.5
Preconfirmation safety plan agreement - first-time minor incidents of child abuse or neglect - rules
19‑3‑310
Child abuse and child neglect diversion program
19‑3‑311
Evidence not privileged
19‑3‑312
Court proceedings
19‑3‑313.5
State department duties - reports of child abuse or neglect - training of county departments - rules - notice and appeal process - confidentiality
19‑3‑315
Federal funds
19‑3‑317
Screening tool - human trafficking
19‑3‑401
Taking children into custody
19‑3‑402
Duty of officer - notification - release or detention
19‑3‑403
Temporary custody - hearing - time limits - restriction - rules
19‑3‑403.5
Temporary shelter
19‑3‑404
Temporary shelter - child’s home
19‑3‑405
Temporary protective custody
19‑3‑406
Relatives or kin as providers of emergency, nonemergency, or continued placement for children or youth - initial criminal history record check - fingerprint-based criminal history record check - criteria for disqualification - use of criminal justice records - rules - definitions
19‑3‑500.2
Legislative declaration
19‑3‑501
Petition initiation - preliminary investigation - informal adjustment
19‑3‑502
Petition form and content - limitations on claims in dependency or neglect actions
19‑3‑503
Summons - issuance - contents - service
19‑3‑504
Contempt - warrant
19‑3‑505
Adjudicatory hearing - findings - adjudication
19‑3‑506
Child with a mental health disorder or an intellectual and developmental disability - procedure
19‑3‑507
Dispositional hearing - rules
19‑3‑508
Neglected or dependent child or youth - disposition - concurrent planning - definition
19‑3‑601
Short title
19‑3‑602
Motion for termination - separate hearing - right to counsel - no jury trial
19‑3‑603
Notice - abandonment
19‑3‑604
Criteria for termination
19‑3‑605
Request for placement with family members
19‑3‑606
Review of child’s disposition following termination of the parent-child legal relationship
19‑3‑607
Expert testimony
19‑3‑608
Effect of decree
19‑3‑609
Appeals - time requirements
19‑3‑610
Budgetary allocation for expenses
19‑3‑612
Reinstatement of the parent-child legal relationship - circumstances - petition - hearings - legislative declaration
19‑3‑702
Permanency hearing
19‑3‑702.5
Periodic reviews
19‑3‑704
Youth with disabilities - incapacitated persons
19‑3‑705
Transition hearing
19‑3‑901
Legislative declaration
19‑3‑902
Definitions
19‑3‑903
Task force on high-quality parenting time - creation - steering committee - membership
19‑3‑904
Task force - purposes - issues to study - written reports
19‑3‑905
Repeal of part
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through Fall 2024

§ 19-3-501’s source at colorado​.gov