Rule 3.963 - Acquiring Physical Custody of Child(A) Taking Custody Without Court Order.(1) An officer may without court order remove a child from the child's surroundings and take the child into protective custody if, after investigation, the officer has reasonable grounds to believe that a child is at substantial risk of harm or is in surroundings that present an imminent risk of harm and the child's immediate removal from those surroundings is necessary to protect the child's health and safety. If the child is an Indian child who resides or is domiciled on a reservation, but is temporarily located off the reservation, the officer may take the child into protective custody only when necessary to prevent imminent physical damage or harm to the child.(2) An officer who takes a child into protective custody under this rule shall immediately notify the Department of Health and Human Services. While awaiting the arrival of the Department of Health and Human Services, the child shall not be held in a detention facility.(3) If a child taken into protective custody under this subrule is not released, the Department of Health and Human Services shall immediately contact the designated judge or referee as provided in subrule (D) to seek an ex parte court order for placement of the child pursuant to subrule (B)(4).(B) Court-Ordered Custody. (1) Order to Take Child into Protective Custody. The court may issue a written order, electronically or otherwise, authorizing a child protective services worker, an officer, or other person deemed suitable by the court to immediately take a child into protective custody when, after presentment of a petition or affidavit of facts to the court, the court has reasonable cause to believe that all the following conditions exist, together with specific findings of fact: (a) The child is at substantial risk of harm or is in surroundings that present an imminent risk of harm and the child's immediate removal from those surroundings is necessary to protect the child's health and safety. If the child is an Indian child who resides or is domiciled on a reservation, but is temporarily located off the reservation, the child is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the tribal court. However, the state court may enter an order for protective custody of that child when it is necessary to prevent imminent physical damage or harm to the child.(b) The circumstances warrant issuing an order pending a hearing in accordance with: (i) MCR 3.965 for a child who is not yet under the jurisdiction of the court, or(ii) MCR 3.974(C) for a child who is already under the jurisdiction of the court under MCR 3.971 or 3.972.(c) Consistent with the circumstances, reasonable efforts were made to prevent or eliminate the need for removal of the child.(d) No remedy other than protective custody is reasonably available to protect the child.(e) Continuing to reside in the home is contrary to the child's welfare.(2) The court may include in such an order authorization to enter specified premises to remove the child.(3) The court shall inquire whether a member of the child's immediate or extended family is available to take custody of the child pending a preliminary hearing, or an emergency removal hearing if the court already has jurisdiction over the child under MCR 3.971 or MCR 3.972, whether there has been a central registry clearance, and whether a criminal history check has been initiated.(4) Ex parte Placement Order. If an officer has taken a child into protective custody without court order under subrule (A), or if the Department of Health and Human Services is requesting the court grant it protective custody and placement authority, the Department of Health and Human Services shall present to the court a petition or affidavit of facts and request a written ex parte placement order. If a judge finds all the factors in subrule (B)(1)(a)-(e) are present, the judge may issue a placement order; if a referee finds all the factors in subrule (B)(1)(a)-(e) are present, the referee may issue an interim placement order pending a preliminary hearing. The written order shall contain specific findings of fact. It shall be communicated, electronically or otherwise, to the Department of Health and Human Services.(C) Arranging for Court Appearance. An officer or other person who takes a child into protective custody must: (1) immediately attempt to notify the child's parent, guardian, or legal custodian of the protective custody;(2) inform the parent, guardian, or legal custodian of the date, time, and place of the preliminary or emergency removal hearing scheduled by the court;(3) immediately bring the child to the court for preliminary hearing, or immediately contact the court for instructions regarding placement pending preliminary hearing;(4) if the court is not open, DHHS must contact the person designated under subrule (D) for permission to place the child pending the hearing;(5) ensure that the petition is prepared and submitted to the court;(6) file a custody statement with the court that includes: (a) a specific and detailed account of the circumstances that led to the emergency removal, and(b) the names of persons notified and the times of notification or the reason for failure to notify.(D) Designated Court Contact (1) When the Department of Health and Human Services seeks a placement order for a child in protective custody under subrule (A) or (B), DHHS shall contact a judge or referee designated by the court for that purpose.(2) If the court is closed, the designated judge or referee may issue an ex parte order for placement upon receipt, electronically or otherwise, of a petition or affidavit of facts. The order must be communicated in writing, electronically or otherwise, to the appropriate county DHHS office and filed with the court the next business day.Amended May 27, 2015, effective 9/1/2015; amended August 14, 2019, effective 8/14/2019; amended May 3, 2023, effective 5/3/2023.