Effective - 28 Aug 2020, 2 histories
211.171. Hearing procedure — notification of current foster parents, preadoptive parents and relatives, when — public may be excluded, when — victim impact statement permitted, when. — 1. The procedure to be followed at the hearing shall be determined by the juvenile court judge and may be as formal or informal as he or she considers desirable, consistent with constitutional and statutory requirements. The judge may take testimony and inquire into the habits, surroundings, conditions and tendencies of the child and the family to enable the court to render such order or judgment as will best promote the welfare of the child and carry out the objectives of this chapter.
2. The hearing may, in the discretion of the court, proceed in the absence of the child and may be adjourned from time to time.
3. The current foster parent of a child, or any preadoptive parent or relative currently providing care for the child, shall be provided with notice of, and an opportunity to be heard in, any hearing to be held with respect to a child in his or her care, and a foster parent shall have standing to participate in all court hearings pertaining to a child in their care. If a foster parent alleges the court failed to allow the foster parent to be heard orally or by submission of correspondence at any hearing regarding a child in their care, the foster parent may seek remedial writ relief pursuant to Missouri supreme court rules 84, 94, and 97. No docket fee shall be required to be paid by the foster parent. The children's division shall not remove a child from placement with a foster parent based solely upon the foster parent's filing of a petition for a remedial writ or while a writ is pending, unless removal is necessary to ensure the health and safety of the child.
4. The court shall ensure a child's foster parent has received full access to the child's medical, psychological, and psychiatric records, including prior records, from the children's division and its contractors under section 210.566, by inquiring at the first hearing at which the foster parent is present.
5. All cases of children shall be heard separately from the trial of cases against adults.
6. Stenographic notes or an authorized recording of the hearing shall be required if the court so orders or, if requested by any party interested in the proceeding.
7. The general public shall be excluded and only such persons admitted as have a direct interest in the case or in the work of the court except in cases where the child is accused of conduct which, if committed by an adult, would be considered a class A or B felony; or for conduct which would be considered a class C felony, if the child has previously been formally adjudicated for the commission of two or more unrelated acts which would have been class A, B or C felonies, if committed by an adult.
8. The practice and procedure customary in proceedings in equity shall govern all proceedings in the juvenile court; except that, the court shall not grant a continuance in such proceedings absent compelling extenuating circumstances, and in such cases, the court shall make written findings on the record detailing the specific reasons for granting a continuance.
9. The court shall allow the victim of any offense to submit a written statement to the court. The court shall allow the victim to appear before the court personally or by counsel for the purpose of making a statement, unless the court finds that the presence of the victim would not serve justice. The statement shall relate solely to the facts of the case and any personal injuries or financial loss incurred by the victim. A member of the immediate family of the victim may appear personally or by counsel to make a statement if the victim has died or is otherwise unable to appear as a result of the offense committed by the child.
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(L. 1957 p. 642 § 211.190, A.L. 1989 H.B. 502, et al., A.L. 1995 H.B. 174, et al., A.L. 1998 H.B. 1822 merged with S.B. 674, A.L. 1999 H.B. 136, A.L. 2004 H.B. 1453, A.L. 2014 S.B. 869, A.L. 2020 H.B. 1414 merged with S.B. 653)
Structure Missouri Revised Statutes
Title XII - Public Health and Welfare
Section 211.011 - Purpose of law — how construed.
Section 211.021 - Definitions.
Section 211.023 - Juvenile court commissioner, appointment, where, term, compensation.
Section 211.037 - Nonoffending parent, child returned to custody of, when.
Section 211.051 - Jurisdiction as to custody of child not exclusive.
Section 211.069 - Citation of law.
Section 211.085 - Court may order work in restitution for child — child not an employee.
Section 211.101 - Issuance of summons — notice — temporary custody of child — subpoenas.
Section 211.111 - Summons, how served.
Section 211.121 - Failure to respond to summons, contempt — warrant for custodian of child.
Section 211.132 - Parent, guardian may be made party to proceeding.
Section 211.135 - Appearance of child in court, when.
Section 211.151 - Places of detention — photographing and fingerprinting, restrictions.
Section 211.156 - Care and detention of certain children by county, contribution by state, when.
Section 211.161 - Court may require physical or mental examination — costs paid by county.
Section 211.177 - Grandparent's right to intervene in action, restrictions, termination.
Section 211.180 - Family preservation screenings, conducted when, results.
Section 211.188 - Court may order work for restitution — not an employee.
Section 211.202 - Mentally disordered children, evaluation — disposition — review by court.
Section 211.203 - Developmentally disabled children, evaluation — disposition — review by court.
Section 211.221 - Religion considered in placing child.
Section 211.251 - Modification of court orders.
Section 211.271 - Court orders not to affect civil rights — not evidence, exception.
Section 211.281 - Costs how adjudged, collected.
Section 211.311 - Clerk of circuit court to act for juvenile court.
Section 211.319 - Juvenile court records and proceedings, abuse and neglect cases, procedure.
Section 211.341 - Detention facilities, how provided — government (third and fourth class counties).
Section 211.343 - Detention facilities, standards and rules for operation.
Section 211.355 - Missouri state juvenile justice advisory board, members, report.
Section 211.381 - Compensation of juvenile court personnel — expenses — salary adjustments.
Section 211.382 - Professionals retained by juvenile court, when.
Section 211.401 - Duties of juvenile officers — may make arrests — cooperation.
Section 211.411 - Law enforcement officials to assist and cooperate with juvenile officers.
Section 211.421 - Endangering the welfare of a child or interfering with orders of court.
Section 211.431 - Violation of law, class A misdemeanor.
Section 211.442 - Definitions.
Section 211.443 - Construction of sections 211.442 to 211.487.
Section 211.444 - Termination of parental rights, when.
Section 211.453 - Service of summons, how made — when required — waiver of summons.
Section 211.487 - Application of sections 211.442 to 211.487 — what law to govern.
Section 211.500 - Establishment of regional juvenile detention districts, when.