(a) A person conducting an investigation under this chapter shall have the right to enter into or upon a home, school, or any other place for the purpose of conducting the investigation and interviewing or completing the investigation.
(b)
(1) A publicly supported school, facility, or institution shall not deny access to any person conducting a child maltreatment investigation under this chapter.
(2) Failure to comply with this section may subject the publicly supported school, facility, or institution to a contempt sanction and reimbursement of attorney's fees.
(c)
(1) If necessary access or admission is denied to a person conducting an investigation under this chapter, the Department of Human Services and the Department of Arkansas State Police may petition the proper juvenile division of circuit court for an ex parte order of investigation requiring the parent, caretaker, or persons denying access to any place where the child may be to allow entrance for the interviews, examinations, and investigations.
(2) However, upon application to the court by the parents, caretaker, or persons denying access to the child showing good cause, the court may issue a written order to stay the order of investigation pending a hearing to be held within seventy-two (72) hours.
Structure Arkansas Code
Title 12 - Law Enforcement, Emergency Management, and Military Affairs
Subtitle 2 - Law Enforcement Agencies and Programs
Chapter 18 - Child Maltreatment Act
Subchapter 6 - Investigative Proceedings
§ 12-18-601. Assignment to investigative agency
§ 12-18-602. Initiation of the investigation
§ 12-18-603. Accompaniment by law enforcement
§ 12-18-604. Services during the investigation
§ 12-18-605. Investigative interviews
§ 12-18-609. Right to enter for the purposes of the investigation
§ 12-18-610. Access to the child's school records
§ 12-18-611. Inspection of personnel and volunteer records
§ 12-18-612. Criminal background check
§ 12-18-613. Access to miscellaneous records
§ 12-18-614. Submission to a physical exam or other testing
§ 12-18-615. Radiology procedures, photographs, electronic media, and medical records
§ 12-18-617. Authority to pursue other remedies
§ 12-18-618. Religious bias prohibited
§ 12-18-619. Closing investigations
§ 12-18-620. Release of information on pending investigation
§ 12-18-621. Right to obtain records during course of the investigation