Local Juvenile Court Rule 2.3
                             SHELTER CARE HEARINGS


    (A)  Generally.  A shelter care hearing shall be held in all cases where a
child has been taken into custody pursuant to RCW 13.34.060 and/or RCW
26.44.050 and a petition has been filed.  The hearing shall be held within 72
hours, excluding weekends and holidays.

    1. In all cases initiated by a lay person filing a dependency petition and
the taking of a child into custody pursuant to the above-referenced statute, a
caseworker shall be assigned to the matter in order to provide a recommendation
to the court as to the need for shelter care.  Juvenile court staff shall
immediately notify the Attorney General's office of any dependency cases
initiated by an individual or agency other than the Department of Social and
Health Services.

    (B)  Notice.  Notice shall be given to all parties as required by RCW 13.34.060
and JuCr 2.3.

    (C)  Procedure.  At the hearing the court shall:

    1. Advise the parties of their rights pursuant to statute and court rules;

    2. Enter an order of shelter care and continuing the matter for a contested proceeding.

    3. At the contested hearing, the court shall take testimony and/or admit
documentary evidence concerning the circumstances for taking the child into
custody and the need for shelter care;

    4. Consider the recommendation made to the court by the Department of Social
and Health Services;

    5. Enter an appropriate Order.


[Adopted effective April 1, 1988, Amended effective September 1, 2006]