An important event that you probably noticed in both of these scenarios is that the children were removed from the home – taken into physical custody – and placed in a licensed facility without a court order or signed parental consent. How is this possible?

Law enforcement officers can take a child into custody in certain limited situations when an immediate response is required, such as when:

• The child is in immediate danger from his or her surroundings.
• The child has run away.
• The child has committed a delinquent act or other law violation.

The child may be placed in an appropriate setting, pending the filing of the petition and the outcome of the complete court process. Many children enter out-of-home care in this manner.