(1) After receiving a report, the youth court intake officer shall promptly make a preliminary inquiry to determine whether the interest of the child, other children in the same environment or the public requires the youth court to take further action. As part of the preliminary inquiry, the youth court intake officer may request that the youth court order the Department of Child Protection Services, the Department of Human Services - Division of Youth Services, any successor agency or any other qualified public employee to make an investigation or report concerning the child and any other children in the same environment, and present the findings thereof to the youth court intake officer.
(2) If the youth court intake officer receives a neglect or abuse report, the youth court intake officer shall immediately forward the complaint to the Department of Child Protection Services to promptly make an investigation or report concerning the child and any other children in the same environment and promptly present the findings thereof to the youth court intake officer.
(3) If it appears from the preliminary inquiry that the child or other children in the same environment are within the jurisdiction of the court, the youth court intake unit shall file a written recommendation within fourteen (14) days of receiving a completed referral giving notice to:(a) The youth court prosecutor in delinquency matters; or(b) The Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services attorney or the youth court prosecutor in welfare matters.
(a) The youth court prosecutor in delinquency matters; or
(b) The Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services attorney or the youth court prosecutor in welfare matters.
(4) Within fourteen (14) days after the receipt of notice of the filing of the intake recommendation, the youth court prosecutor, in delinquency matters, shall:(a) File a case closure notice;(b) File a referral to the youth intervention court;(c) Divert the case for monitoring by the Division of Youth Services within the Department of Human Services by filing notice of the same;(d) Divert the matter to a diversion program by filing notice of the same;(e) Recommend to the youth court that an informal adjustment be made;(f) Recommend to the youth court that the child is warned or counseled informally; or(g) File a petition.
(a) File a case closure notice;
(b) File a referral to the youth intervention court;
(c) Divert the case for monitoring by the Division of Youth Services within the Department of Human Services by filing notice of the same;
(d) Divert the matter to a diversion program by filing notice of the same;
(e) Recommend to the youth court that an informal adjustment be made;
(f) Recommend to the youth court that the child is warned or counseled informally; or
(g) File a petition.
(5) Within fourteen (14) days after the receipt of notice of the filing of the intake recommendation, the Department of Child Protection Services or the youth court prosecutor, in welfare matters, shall:(a) File a case closure notice;(b) File a referral to the youth intervention court;(c) Enter a notice of active monitoring by the agency;(d) Divert the matter to a diversion program by filing notice of the same; or(e) File a petition.
(a) File a case closure notice;
(b) File a referral to the youth intervention court;
(c) Enter a notice of active monitoring by the agency;
(d) Divert the matter to a diversion program by filing notice of the same; or
(e) File a petition.
(6) The case closure notice shall be reviewable by the youth court for thirty (30) days after the entry of the notice on the court’s own motion, on motion by the youth court prosecutor, or on motion by the Department of Child Protection Services. Nothing in this section shall affect the timeline relating to the filing of a petition once the youth court has issued a custody order pursuant to Section 43-21-301.
(7) If the preliminary inquiry discloses that a child needs emergency medical treatment, the judge may order the necessary treatment.
(8) Intake officers, youth court prosecutors, the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services, or personnel or contractors of any state agency shall not communicate with a youth court or youth court judge concerning a youth court case or matter until authorized by this chapter.