Article II - Abused, Neglected Or Dependent Minors


      (705 ILCS 405/Art. II heading)
ARTICLE II. ABUSED, NEGLECTED OR
DEPENDENT MINORS

    (705 ILCS 405/2‑1) (from Ch. 37, par. 802‑1)
    Sec. 2‑1. Jurisdictional facts. Proceedings may be instituted under the provisions of this Article concerning boys and girls who are abused, neglected or dependent, as defined in Sections 2‑3 or 2‑4.
(Source: P.A. 85‑601.)

    (705 ILCS 405/2‑2) (from Ch. 37, par. 802‑2)
    Sec. 2‑2. Venue. (1) Venue under this Article lies in the county where the minor resides or is found.
    (2) If proceedings are commenced in any county other than that of the minor's residence, the court in which the proceedings were initiated may at any time before or after adjudication of wardship transfer the case to the county of the minor's residence by transmitting to the court in that county an authenticated copy of the court record, including all documents, petitions and orders filed therein, and the minute orders and docket entries of the court. Transfer in like manner may be made in the event of a change of residence from one county to another of a minor concerning whom proceedings are pending.
(Source: P.A. 85‑601.)

    (705 ILCS 405/2‑3)(from Ch. 37, par. 802‑3)
    Sec. 2‑3. Neglected or abused minor.
    (1) Those who are neglected include:
        (a) any minor under 18 years of age who is not
     receiving the proper or necessary support, education as required by law, or medical or other remedial care recognized under State law as necessary for a minor's well‑being, or other care necessary for his or her well‑being, including adequate food, clothing and shelter, or who is abandoned by his or her parent or parents or other person or persons responsible for the minor's welfare, except that a minor shall not be considered neglected for the sole reason that the minor's parent or parents or other person or persons responsible for the minor's welfare have left the minor in the care of an adult relative for any period of time, who the parent or parents or other person responsible for the minor's welfare know is both a mentally capable adult relative and physically capable adult relative, as defined by this Act; or
        (b) any minor under 18 years of age whose
     environment is injurious to his or her welfare; or
        (c) any newborn infant whose blood, urine, or
     meconium contains any amount of a controlled substance as defined in subsection (f) of Section 102 of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, as now or hereafter amended, or a metabolite of a controlled substance, with the exception of controlled substances or metabolites of such substances, the presence of which in the newborn infant is the result of medical treatment administered to the mother or the newborn infant; or
        (d) any minor under the age of 14 years whose parent
     or other person responsible for the minor's welfare leaves the minor without supervision for an unreasonable period of time without regard for the mental or physical health, safety, or welfare of that minor; or
        (e) any minor who has been provided with interim
     crisis intervention services under Section 3‑5 of this Act and whose parent, guardian, or custodian refuses to permit the minor to return home unless the minor is an immediate physical danger to himself, herself, or others living in the home.
    Whether the minor was left without regard for the mental or physical health, safety, or welfare of that minor or the period of time was unreasonable shall be determined by considering the following factors, including but not limited to:
        (1) the age of the minor;
        (2) the number of minors left at the location;
        (3) special needs of the minor, including whether
     the minor is physically or mentally handicapped, or otherwise in need of ongoing prescribed medical treatment such as periodic doses of insulin or other medications;
        (4) the duration of time in which the minor was left
     without supervision;
        (5) the condition and location of the place where
     the minor was left without supervision;
        (6) the time of day or night when the minor was left
     without supervision;
        (7) the weather conditions, including whether the
     minor was left in a location with adequate protection from the natural elements such as adequate heat or light;
        (8) the location of the parent or guardian at the
     time the minor was left without supervision, the physical distance the minor was from the parent or guardian at the time the minor was without supervision;
        (9) whether the minor's movement was restricted, or
     the minor was otherwise locked within a room or other structure;
        (10) whether the minor was given a phone number of a
     person or location to call in the event of an emergency and whether the minor was capable of making an emergency call;
        (11) whether there was food and other provision left
     for the minor;
        (12) whether any of the conduct is attributable to
     economic hardship or illness and the parent, guardian or other person having physical custody or control of the child made a good faith effort to provide for the health and safety of the minor;
        (13) the age and physical and mental capabilities of
     the person or persons who provided supervision for the minor;
        (14) whether the minor was left under the
     supervision of another person;
        (15) any other factor that would endanger the health
     and safety of that particular minor.
    A minor shall not be considered neglected for the sole reason that the minor has been relinquished in accordance with the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act.
    (2) Those who are abused include any minor under 18 years of age whose parent or immediate family member, or any person responsible for the minor's welfare, or any person who is in the same family or household as the minor, or any individual residing in the same home as the minor, or a paramour of the minor's parent:
        (i) inflicts, causes to be inflicted, or allows to
     be inflicted upon such minor physical injury, by other than accidental means, which causes death, disfigurement, impairment of physical or emotional health, or loss or impairment of any bodily function;
        (ii) creates a substantial risk of physical injury
     to such minor by other than accidental means which would be likely to cause death, disfigurement, impairment of emotional health, or loss or impairment of any bodily function;
        (iii) commits or allows to be committed any sex
     offense against such minor, as such sex offenses are defined in the Criminal Code of 1961, as amended, and extending those definitions of sex offenses to include minors under 18 years of age;
        (iv) commits or allows to be committed an act or
     acts of torture upon such minor; or
        (v) inflicts excessive corporal punishment.
    A minor shall not be considered abused for the sole reason that the minor has been relinquished in accordance with the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act.
    (3) This Section does not apply to a minor who would be included herein solely for the purpose of qualifying for financial assistance for himself, his parents, guardian or custodian.
(Source: P.A. 95‑443, eff. 1‑1‑08; 96‑168, eff. 8‑10‑09.)

    (705 ILCS 405/2‑4)(from Ch. 37, par. 802‑4)
    Sec. 2‑4. Dependent minor.
    (1) Those who are dependent include any minor under 18 years of age:
        (a) who is without a parent, guardian or legal
     custodian;
        (b) who is without proper care because of the
     physical or mental disability of his parent, guardian or custodian;
        (c) who is without proper medical or other remedial
     care recognized under State law or other care necessary for his or her well being through no fault, neglect or lack of concern by his parents, guardian or custodian, provided that no order may be made terminating parental rights, nor may a minor be removed from the custody of his or her parents for longer than 6 months, pursuant to an adjudication as a dependent minor under this subdivision (c), unless it is found to be in his or her best interest by the court or the case automatically closes as provided under Section 2‑31 of this Act; or
        (d) who has a parent, guardian or legal custodian
     who with good cause wishes to be relieved of all residual parental rights and responsibilities, guardianship or custody, and who desires the appointment of a guardian of the person with power to consent to the adoption of the minor under Section 2‑29.
    (2) This Section does not apply to a minor who would be included herein solely for the purpose of qualifying for financial assistance for himself, his parent or parents, guardian or custodian or to a minor solely because his or her parent or parents or guardian has left the minor for any period of time in the care of an adult relative, who the parent or parents or guardian know is both a mentally capable adult relative and physically capable adult relative, as defined by this Act.
(Source: P.A. 96‑168, eff. 8‑10‑09.)

    (705 ILCS 405/2‑4a)
    Sec. 2‑4a. Special immigrant minor.
    (a) Except as otherwise provided in this Act, a special immigrant minor under 18 years of age who has been made a ward of the court may be deemed eligible by the court for long‑term foster care due to abuse, neglect, or abandonment and remain under the jurisdiction of the juvenile court until his or her special immigrant juvenile status and adjustment of status applications are adjudicated. The petition filed on behalf of the special immigrant minor must allege that he or she otherwise satisfies the prerequisites for special immigrant juvenile status pursuant to 8 U.S.C. Section 1101(a)(27)(J) and must state the custodial status sought on behalf of the minor.
    (b) For the purposes of this Section, a juvenile court may make a finding that a special immigrant minor is eligible for long term foster care if the court makes the following findings:
        (1) That a reasonable diligent search for biological
     parents, prior adoptive parents, or prior legal guardians has been conducted; and
        (2) That reunification with the minor's biological
     parents or prior adoptive parents is not a viable option.
    (c) For the purposes of this Section:
        (1) The term "abandonment" means the failure of a
     parent or legal guardian to maintain a reasonable degree of interest, concern, or responsibility for the welfare of his or her minor child or ward.
        (2) The term "special immigrant minor" means an
     immigrant minor who (i) is present in the United States and has been made a ward of the court and (ii) for whom it has been determined by the juvenile court or in an administrative or judicial proceeding that it would not be in his or her best interests to be returned to his or her previous country of nationality or country of last habitual residence.
    (d) This Section does not apply to a minor who applies for special immigrant minor status solely for the purpose of qualifying for financial assistance for himself or herself or for his or her parents, guardian, or custodian.
(Source: P.A. 93‑145, eff. 7‑10‑03.)

    (705 ILCS 405/2‑5) (from Ch. 37, par. 802‑5)
    Sec. 2‑5. Taking into custody. (1) A law enforcement officer may, without a warrant, take into temporary custody a minor (a) whom the officer with reasonable cause believes to be a person described in Section 2‑3 or 2‑4; (b) who has been adjudged a ward of the court and has escaped from any commitment ordered by the court under this Act; or (c) who is found in any street or public place suffering from any sickness or injury which requires care, medical treatment or hospitalization.
    (2) Whenever a petition has been filed under Section 2‑13 and the court finds that the conduct and behavior of the minor may endanger the health, person, welfare, or property of himself or others or that the circumstances of his home environment may endanger his health, person, welfare or property, a warrant may be issued immediately to take the minor into custody.
    (3) The taking of a minor into temporary custody under this Section is not an arrest nor does it constitute a police record.
(Source: P.A. 85‑601.)

    (705 ILCS 405/2‑6) (from Ch. 37, par. 802‑6)
    Sec. 2‑6. Duty of officer. (1) A law enforcement officer who takes a minor into custody under Section 2‑5 shall immediately make a reasonable attempt to notify the parent or other person legally responsible for the minor's care or the person with whom the minor resides that the minor has been taken into custody and where he or she is being held.
    (a) A law enforcement officer who takes a minor into custody with a warrant shall without unnecessary delay take the minor to the nearest juvenile police officer designated for such purposes in the county of venue.
    (b) A law enforcement officer who takes a minor into custody without a warrant shall place the minor in temporary protective custody and shall immediately notify the Department of Children and Family Services by contacting either the central register established under 7.7 of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act or the nearest Department of Children and Family Services office. If there is reasonable cause to suspect that a minor has died as a result of abuse or neglect, the law enforcement officer shall immediately report such suspected abuse or neglect to the appropriate medical examiner or coroner.
(Source: P.A. 85‑601.)

    (705 ILCS 405/2‑7) (from Ch. 37, par. 802‑7)
    Sec. 2‑7. Temporary custody. "Temporary custody" means the temporary placement of the minor out of the custody of his or her guardian or parent, and includes the following:
    (1) "Temporary protective custody" means custody within a hospital or other medical facility or a place previously designated for such custody by the Department of Children and Family Services, subject to review by the court, including a licensed foster home, group home, or other institution. However, such place shall not be a jail or other place for the detention of the criminal or juvenile offenders.
    (2) "Shelter care" means a physically unrestrictive facility designated by the Department of Children and Family Services or a licensed child welfare agency, or other suitable place designated by the court for a minor who requires care away from his or her home.
(Source: P.A. 85‑601.)

    (705 ILCS 405/2‑8) (from Ch. 37, par. 802‑8)
    Sec. 2‑8. Investigation; release. When a minor is delivered to the court, or to the place designated by the court under Section 2‑7 of this Act, a probation officer or such other public officer designated by the court shall immediately investigate the circumstances of the minor and the facts surrounding his or her being taken into custody. The minor shall be immediately released to the custody of his or her parent, guardian, legal custodian or responsible relative, unless the probation officer or such other public officer designated by the court finds that further temporary protective custody is necessary, as provided in Section 2‑7.
(Source: P.A. 85‑601.)

    (705 ILCS 405/2‑9) (from Ch. 37, par. 802‑9)
    Sec. 2‑9. Setting of temporary custody hearing; notice; release.
    (1) Unless sooner released, a minor as defined in Section 2‑3 or 2‑4 of this Act taken into temporary protective custody must be brought before a judicial officer within 48 hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and court‑designated holidays, for a temporary custody hearing to determine whether he shall be further held in custody.
    (2) If the probation officer or such other public officer designated by the court determines that the minor should be retained in custody, he shall cause a petition to be filed as provided in Section 2‑13 of this Article, and the clerk of the court shall set the matter for hearing on the temporary custody hearing calendar. When a parent, guardian, custodian or responsible relative is present and so requests, the temporary custody hearing shall be held immediately if the court is in session, otherwise at the earliest feasible time. The petitioner through counsel or such other public officer designated by the court shall insure notification to the minor's parent, guardian, custodian or responsible relative of the time and place of the hearing by the best practicable notice, allowing for oral notice in place of written notice only if provision of written notice is unreasonable under the circumstances.
    (3) The minor must be released from temporary protective custody at the expiration of the 48 hour period specified by this Section if not brought before a judicial officer within that period.
(Source: P.A. 87‑759.)

    (705 ILCS 405/2‑10)(from Ch. 37, par. 802‑10)
    Sec. 2‑10. Temporary custody hearing. At the appearance of the minor before the court at the temporary custody hearing, all witnesses present shall be examined before the court in relation to any matter connected with the allegations made in the petition.
    (1) If the court finds that there is not probable cause to believe that the minor is abused, neglected or dependent it shall release the minor and dismiss the petition.
    (2) If the court finds that there is probable cause to believe that the minor is abused, neglected or dependent, the court shall state in writing the factual basis supporting its finding and the minor, his or her parent, guardian, custodian and other persons able to give relevant testimony shall be examined before the court. The Department of Children and Family Services shall give testimony concerning indicated reports of abuse and neglect, of which they are aware of through the central registry, involving the minor's parent, guardian or custodian. After such testimony, the court may, consistent with the health, safety and best interests of the minor, enter an order that the minor shall be released upon the request of parent, guardian or custodian if the parent, guardian or custodian appears to take custody. If it is determined that a parent's, guardian's, or custodian's compliance with critical services mitigates the necessity for removal of the minor from his or her home, the court may enter an Order of Protection setting forth reasonable conditions of behavior that a parent, guardian, or custodian must observe for a specified period of time, not to exceed 12 months, without a violation; provided, however, that the 12‑month period shall begin anew after any violation. Custodian shall include any agency of the State which has been given custody or wardship of the child. If it is consistent with the health, safety and best interests of the minor, the court may also prescribe shelter care and order that the minor be kept in a suitable place designated by the court or in a shelter care facility designated by the Department of Children and Family Services or a licensed child welfare agency; however, a minor charged with a criminal offense under the Criminal Code of 1961 or adjudicated delinquent shall not be placed in the custody of or committed to the Department of Children and Family Services by any court, except a minor less than 15 years of age and committed to the Department of Children and Family Services under Section 5‑710 of this Act or a minor for whom an independent basis of abuse, neglect, or dependency exists. An independent basis exists when the allegations or adjudication of abuse, neglect, or dependency do not arise from the same facts, incident, or circumstances which give rise to a charge or adjudication of delinquency.
    In placing the minor, the Department or other agency shall, to the extent compatible with the court's order, comply with Section 7 of the Children and Family Services Act. In determining the health, safety and best interests of the minor to prescribe shelter care, the court must find that it is a matter of immediate and urgent necessity for the safety and protection of the minor or of the person or property of another that the minor be placed in a shelter care facility or that he or she is likely to flee the jurisdiction of the court, and must further find that reasonable efforts have been made or that, consistent with the health, safety and best interests of the minor, no efforts reasonably can be made to prevent or eliminate the necessity of removal of the minor from his or her home. The court shall require documentation from the Department of Children and Family Services as to the reasonable efforts that were made to prevent or eliminate the necessity of removal of the minor from his or her home or the reasons why no efforts reasonably could be made to prevent or eliminate the necessity of removal. When a minor is placed in the home of a relative, the Department of Children and Family Services shall complete a preliminary background review of the members of the minor's custodian's household in accordance with Section 4.3 of the Child Care Act of 1969 within 90 days of that placement. If the minor is ordered placed in a shelter care facility of the Department of Children and Family Services or a licensed child welfare agency, the court shall, upon request of the appropriate Department or other agency, appoint the Department of Children and Family Services Guardianship Administrator or other appropriate agency executive temporary custodian of the minor and the court may enter such other orders related to the temporary custody as it deems fit and proper, including the provision of services to the minor or his family to ameliorate the causes contributing to the finding of probable cause or to the finding of the existence of immediate and urgent necessity.
    Where the Department of Children and Family Services Guardianship Administrator is appointed as the executive temporary custodian, the Department of Children and Family Services shall file with the court and serve on the parties a parent‑child visiting plan, within 10 days, excluding weekends and holidays, after the appointment. The parent‑child visiting plan shall set out the time and place of visits, the frequency of visits, the length of visits, who shall be present at the visits, and where appropriate, the minor's opportunities to have telephone and mail communication with the parents. For good cause, the court may waive the requirement to file the parent‑child visiting plan or extend the time for filing the parent‑child visiting plan. Any party may, by motion, request the court to review the parent‑child visiting plan to determine whether it is reasonably calculated to expeditiously facilitate the achievement of the permanency goal and is consistent with the minor's best interest. The frequency, duration, and locations of visitation shall be measured by the needs of the child and family, and not by the convenience of Department personnel. Child development principles shall be considered by the court in its analysis of how frequent visitation should be, how long it should last, where it should take place, and who should be present. If upon motion of the party to review the plan and after receiving evidence, the court determines that the parent‑child visiting plan is not reasonably calculated to expeditiously facilitate the achievement of the permanency goal or that the restrictions placed on parent‑child contact are contrary to the child's best interests, the court shall put in writing the factual basis supporting the determination and enter specific findings based on the evidence. The court shall enter an order for the Department to implement changes to the parent‑child visiting plan, consistent with the court's findings. At any stage of proceeding, any party may by motion request the court to enter any orders necessary to implement the parent‑child visiting plan. Nothing under this subsection (2) shall restrict the court from granting discretionary authority to the Department to increase opportunities for additional parent‑child contacts, without further court orders. Nothing in this subsection (2) shall restrict the Department from immediately restricting or terminating parent‑child contact, without either amending the parent‑child visiting plan or obtaining a court order, where the Department or its assigns reasonably believe that continuation of parent‑child contact, as set out in the parent‑child visiting plan, would be contrary to the child's health, safety, and welfare. The Department shall file with the court and serve on the parties any amendments to the visitation plan within 10 days, excluding weekends and holidays, of the change of the visitation. Any party may, by motion, request the court to review the parent‑child visiting plan to determine whether the parent‑child visiting plan is reasonably calculated to expeditiously facilitate the achievement of the permanency goal, and is consistent with the minor's health, safety, and best interest.
    Acceptance of services shall not be considered an admission of any allegation in a petition made pursuant to this Act, nor may a referral of services be considered as evidence in any proceeding pursuant to this Act, except where the issue is whether the Department has made reasonable efforts to reunite the family. In making its findings that it is consistent with the health, safety and best interests of the minor to prescribe shelter care, the court shall state in writing (i) the factual basis supporting its findings concerning the immediate and urgent necessity for the protection of the minor or of the person or property of another and (ii) the factual basis supporting its findings that reasonable efforts were made to prevent or eliminate the removal of the minor from his or her home or that no efforts reasonably could be made to prevent or eliminate the removal of the minor from his or her home. The parents, guardian, custodian, temporary custodian and minor shall each be furnished a copy of such written findings. The temporary custodian shall maintain a copy of the court order and written findings in the case record for the child. The order together with the court's findings of fact in support thereof shall be entered of record in the court.
    Once the court finds that it is a matter of immediate and urgent necessity for the protection of the minor that the minor be placed in a shelter care facility, the minor shall not be returned to the parent, custodian or guardian until the court finds that such placement is no longer necessary for the protection of the minor.
    If the child is placed in the temporary custody of the Department of Children and Family Services for his or her protection, the court shall admonish the parents, guardian, custodian or responsible relative that the parents must cooperate with the Department of Children and Family Services, comply with the terms of the service plans, and correct the conditions which require the child to be in care, or risk termination of their parental rights.
    (3) If prior to the shelter care hearing for a minor described in Sections 2‑3, 2‑4, 3‑3 and 4‑3 the moving party is unable to serve notice on the party respondent, the shelter care hearing may proceed ex‑parte. A shelter care order from an ex‑parte hearing shall be endorsed with the date and hour of issuance and shall be filed with the clerk's office and entered of record. The order shall expire after 10 days from the time it is issued unless before its expiration it is renewed, at a hearing upon appearance of the party respondent, or upon an affidavit of the moving party as to all diligent efforts to notify the party respondent by notice as herein prescribed. The notice prescribed shall be in writing and shall be personally delivered to the minor or the minor's attorney and to the last known address of the other person or persons entitled to notice. The notice shall also state the nature of the allegations, the nature of the order sought by the State, including whether temporary custody is sought, and the consequences of failure to appear and shall contain a notice that the parties will not be entitled to further written notices or publication notices of proceedings in this case, including the filing of an amended petition or a motion to terminate parental rights, except as required by Supreme Court Rule 11; and shall explain the right of the parties and the procedures to vacate or modify a shelter care order as provided in this Section. The notice for a shelter care hearing shall be substantially as follows:
NOTICE TO PARENTS AND CHILDREN
OF SHELTER CARE HEARING
        On ................ at ........., before the
     Honorable ................, (address:) ................., the State of Illinois will present evidence (1) that (name of child or children) ....................... are abused, neglected or dependent for the following reasons:
    .............................................. and (2)
     whether there is "immediate and urgent necessity" to remove the child or children from the responsible relative.
        YOUR FAILURE TO APPEAR AT THE HEARING MAY RESULT IN
     PLACEMENT of the child or children in foster care until a trial can be held. A trial may not be held for up to 90 days. You will not be entitled to further notices of proceedings in this case, including the filing of an amended petition or a motion to terminate parental rights.