Maine Code § 15-3501

Interim care
Open in Lexace · Ask the AI about this section
1. Interim care. A juvenile may be taken into interim care by a law enforcement officer without
order by the court when the officer has reasonable grounds to believe that:
A. The juvenile is abandoned, lost or seriously endangered in the juvenile's surroundings and that
immediate removal is necessary for the juvenile's protection; or [PL 2019, c. 525, §29 (AMD).]
B. The juvenile has left the care of the juvenile's parent or parents, guardian or legal custodian
without the consent of the parent or parents, guardian or legal custodian. [PL 2019, c. 525, §29
(AMD).]
[PL 2019, c. 525, §29 (AMD).]
2. Limit. Under no circumstances shall any juvenile taken into interim care be held involuntarily
for more than 6 hours.
[PL 1977, c. 520, §1 (NEW).]
3. Interim care, police record. The taking of a juvenile into interim care pursuant to this section
is not an arrest and shall not be designated in any police records as an arrest.
[PL 1977, c. 520, §1 (NEW).]
4. Notification of parents, guardian or custodian. When a juvenile is taken into interim care,
the law enforcement officer or the Department of Health and Human Services shall, as soon as possible,
notify the juvenile's parent, guardian or legal custodian of the juvenile's whereabouts. If a parent,

guardian or legal custodian cannot be located, such notification shall be made to a person with whom
the juvenile is residing.
[PL 1981, c. 619, §5 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 689, Pt. B, §6 (REV).]
5. Interim care, placement.
A. When a law enforcement officer takes a juvenile into interim care, the officer shall contact the
Department of Health and Human Services which shall designate a place where the juvenile will
be held. [PL 1981, c. 619, §6 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 689, Pt. B, §6 (REV).]
B. The law enforcement officer shall take the juvenile to the Department of Health and Human
Services or to the location specified by the department without unnecessary delay. [PL 1981, c.
619, §7 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 689, Pt. B, §6 (REV).]
C. [PL 1981, c. 619, §8 (RP).]
[PL 1981, c. 619, §§6-8 (AMD); PL 2003, c. 689, Pt. B, §6 (REV).]
6. (omitted).
REVISOR'S NOTE: Subsection 6 omitted when section enacted by PL 1977, c. 520, §1
7. Interim care, restriction on placement and transportation.
A. A juvenile taken into interim care may not be placed in a jail or other secure detention or
correctional facility intended or used to detain adults accused or convicted of crimes or juveniles
accused or adjudicated of juvenile crimes. [PL 1997, c. 752, §28 (AMD).]
B. Notwithstanding paragraph A, a juvenile taken into interim care may be held, if no other
appropriate placement is available, in the public sections of a facility described in section 3203-A,
subsection 7, paragraph B if there is an adequate staff to supervise the juvenile's activities at all
times or in accordance with section 3203-A, subsection 7-A. [PL 1997, c. 752, §29 (AMD).]
C. To the extent practicable, a juvenile taken into interim care shall not be placed or transported in
any police or other vehicle which at the same time contains an adult under arrest. [PL 1977, c.
520, §1 (NEW).]
[PL 1997, c. 752, §§28, 29 (AMD).]
8. Interim care; voluntary services. The Department of Health and Human Services shall inform
the juvenile and the juvenile's parent or parents, guardian or legal custodian of social services and
encourage them to voluntarily accept social services.
[PL 2019, c. 525, §30 (AMD).]
9. Interim care, identification of juvenile. Fingerprints of a juvenile taken into interim care
pursuant to this section may not be obtained from the juvenile. Solely for the purpose of restoring a
juvenile to the juvenile's residence, the juvenile's name, address, photograph and other reasonably
necessary information may be obtained and transmitted to any appropriate person or agency.
[RR 2023, c. 2, Pt. D, §95 (COR).]

‹ Prev All Maine sections Next ›


Lexace provides legal information, not legal advice, and no attorney–client relationship is created. Statute text is provided for general information and may not reflect the most recent amendments; verify against the official state code.