(A) If a child committed to an inpatient facility or a residential treatment program is absent without proper authorization, the facility or program director immediately shall notify the appropriate state and local law enforcement officials and the parent or legal guardian of the absence by telephone. The notice also must be confirmed in writing and mailed to the law enforcement officials, parent, or legal guardian within twenty-four hours after the absence is discovered.
(B) A law enforcement officer, upon the request of the facility director or his designee and without necessity of a warrant or a court order, may take the child into custody and return him to the program or facility.
HISTORY: 1991 Act No. 88, Section 1.
Structure South Carolina Code of Laws
Chapter 24 - Commitment Of Children In Need Of Mental Health Treatment
Section 44-24-10. Definitions.
Section 44-24-20. Voluntary admission; notification of guardian ad litem.
Section 44-24-40. Discharge of voluntarily admitted child; grounds for not effecting discharge.
Section 44-24-60. Emergency admission of child to inpatient hospital.
Section 44-24-70. Taking custody of child needing emergency admission.
Section 44-24-100. Notice of hearing for emergency or judicial admission.
Section 44-24-120. Removal of proceedings to another county.
Section 44-24-130. Hearing; location; testimony; rules of evidence; transcript.
Section 44-24-140. Determination after presentation of evidence.
Section 44-24-150. Psychiatric evaluations of children; notification of victims.
Section 44-24-180. Court review of case of child involuntarily admitted.
Section 44-24-200. Unauthorized absence of child from facility or residential program.
Section 44-24-220. Requirement of discharge planning and continuity of service in community.
Section 44-24-230. Provision of community-based treatment as alternative to hospitalization.
Section 44-24-270. Personal, civil, and property rights of child in treatment program.