§ 12-18-1001 - Protective custody generally.
12-18-1001. Protective custody generally.
(a) A police officer, law enforcement, a juvenile division of circuit court judge during juvenile proceedings concerning the child or a sibling of the child, or a designated employee of the Department of Human Services may take a child into custody or any person in charge of a hospital or similar institution or any physician treating a child may keep that child in his or her custody without the consent of the parent or the guardian, whether or not additional medical treatment is required, if:
(1) The child is subjected to neglect as defined under 12-18-103(13)(B) and the department assesses the family and determines that the newborn and any other children, including siblings, under the custody or care of the mother are at substantial risk of serious harm such that the children need to be removed from the custody or care of the mother;
(2) The child is dependent as defined in the Arkansas Juvenile Code of 1989, 9-27-301 et seq.; or
(3) Circumstances or conditions of the child are such that continuing in his or her place of residence or in the care and custody of the parent, guardian, custodian, or caretaker presents an immediate danger of severe maltreatment.
(b) However, custody shall not exceed seventy-two (72) hours except in the event that the expiration of seventy-two (72) hours falls on a weekend or holiday, in which case custody may be extended through the next business day following the weekend or holiday.