F.  Temporary Custody


C.R.S. § 19-3-312(1);
C.R.S. § 19-3-405.

DHS may seek a court order for custody of a child at any time of the day or night. 

C.R.S. § 19-3-403(3.5)

If custody is granted by the court, the parent or guardian is entitled to a hearing within 72 hours, excluding weekends and holidays.

C.R.S. § 19-3-401
Law enforcement may take a child into custody without a court order when the child is abandoned, lost, seriously endangered or seriously endangers others, and immediate removal appears necessary to protect the child or to protect others; or when there are grounds to believe the child has run away from home and the parent, guardian, or legal custodian has not made a runaway report. 

C.R.S. § 19-3-403(2)
If this is done, and the child is placed in a temporary facility not operated by DHS, law enforcement must promptly notify the court. The parent or guardian is entitled to a hearing on this decision within 48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays.

C.R.S. § 19-3-406(4)
A child may not be placed in emergency placement with a person with specified criminal history, such as child abuse, a crime of violence, unlawful sexual behavior, felony domestic violence, felony assault, felony drug offense, violation of a protective order, or homicide.

C.R.S. § 19-3-401(3)(a)
A newborn child who is not in a hospital setting may not be taken into custody for more than twenty-four hours without a court order. The court order for custody must include findings that an emergency situation exists, and that the newborn child is seriously endangered.

C.R.S. § 19-3-401(3)(b)
A newborn child who is in a hospital setting may not be taken into temporary protective custody without a court order. The court order for custody must include findings that an emergency situation exists, and that the newborn child is seriously endangered. 

C.R.S. § 19-3-401(3)(c)
However, the court order is not required when :
  • The newborn child is identified by a physician, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or physician’s assistant engaged in the admission, care, or treatment of patients as being affected by substance abuse, or demonstrating withdrawal symptoms resulting from prenatal drug exposure; or
  • When both of the newborn child’s birth parents, or the only identifiable birth parent, have been determined by a physician, registered nurse, or qualified mental health professional to be in need of custody, treatment, and evaluation of mental illness or grave disability; or
  • When the newborn child is subject to an environment exposing the child to a lab for manufacturing controlled substances.