§ 37-1-128 — Investigations - Custody of child - Evaluation and commitment for mental illness or developmental disability

(a) (1) When a child alleged to be delinquent or unruly is brought before the court, the court may notify a probation officer attached to the court or any such person, persons or agencies available to the court, or to the department of children's services, and it shall be their duty to: (A) Make an investigation of the case or conduct a preliminary inquiry if one has not already been conducted; (B) Be present in court to report when the case is heard; (C) Furnish such information and assistance as the court may require; and (D) Take charge of any child before or after the hearing as may be directed by the court. (2) A probation officer shall have, as to any child committed to such officer's care, the powers of a law enforcement officer. Subject to this part, the probation officer may bring such child before the court committing the child to the officer's care for further action as the court may deem fit and proper. (b) [Deleted by 2016 amendment.] (c) (1) At any time prior to a child being adjudicated unruly or dependent and neglected, or before the disposition of a child who has been adjudicated delinquent, unruly or dependent and neglected, the court may order that the department make an assessment of the child and report the findings and recommendations to the court. Such order of referral shall confer authority to the department or its designees to transport the child and to obtain any necessary evaluations of the child without further consent of the parent(s), legal custodian or guardian. (2) If, during the evaluation or assessment, the department determines that there is a need for treatment for either the mental or physical well being of the child, consent of the parent(s), guardian or current legal custodian shall be obtained. If such consent cannot be obtained, the department may apply to the court for authorization to provide consent on behalf of the child. If a child is suspected of being in need of or is eligible for special education services, then state and federal laws governing evaluation and placement must be followed. (3) A report to the court of the department's recommendations shall be made within fifteen (15) days, which may be extended up to thirty (30) days for good cause following the court's order of referral. The department shall include in the report a review of the child's previous records including, but not limited to, health and education records, a review of the child's family history and current family status, and a written recommendation concerning the child's status. (4) Any order of the court that places custody of a child with the department shall empower the department to select any specific residential or treatment placements or programs for the child according to the determination made by the department, its employees, agents or contractors. (d) During the pendency of any proceeding, the court may order the child examined at a suitable place by a physician regarding the child's medical condition, and may order medical or surgical treatment of a child who is suffering from a serious physical condition or illness that requires prompt treatment, even if the parent, guardian or other custodian has not been given notice of a hearing, is not available, or without good cause informs the court of such person's refusal to consent to treatment. (e) (1) (A) If, during the pendency of any proceeding under this chapter, there is reason to believe that the child may be suffering from mental illness, the court may order the child to be evaluated on an outpatient basis by a mental health agency or a licensed private practitioner designated by the commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services to serve the court. If, during the pendency of any proceeding under this chapter, there is reason to believe that the child may be suffering from a developmental disability, the court may order the child to be evaluated on an outpatient basis by a mental health agency, developmental center or a licensed private practitioner designated by the commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services to serve the court. The outpatient evaluation shall be completed no more than thirty (30) days after receipt of the order by the examining professional. (B) If, and only if, in either of the circumstances described in subdivision (e)(1)(A) the outpatient evaluator concludes that further evaluation and treatment are needed, the court may order the child hospitalized. If the court orders the child to be hospitalized in a department of mental health and substance abuse services facility, hospital or treatment resource, the child shall be placed into the custody of the commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services at the expense of the county for not more than thirty (30) days at a facility, hospital or treatment resource with available, suitable accommodations. Prior to transporting a defendant for such evaluation and treatment in a department facility, the sheriff or other transportation agent shall determine that the receiving department facility has available, suitable accommodations. (2) If an evaluation is ordered under this subsection (e), the evaluator shall file a complete report with the court, which shall include: (A) Whether the child is mentally ill or developmentally disabled; (B) Identification of the care, training or treatment required to address conditions of mental illness or developmental disability that are found, and recommendations as to resources that may be able to provide such services; (C) Whether the child is subject to voluntary or involuntary admission or commitment for inpatient or residential services or for commitment to the custody of the department of mental health and substance abuse services for such conditions under title 33; and (D) Any other information requested by the court that is within the competence of the evaluator. (3) If it appears from the evaluation report and other information before the court that the child is in need of care, training or treatment for mental illness or developmental disability, the court may proceed in accordance with other provisions of this chapter or may order that proceedings be initiated before the court under § 37-1-175 , § 52-5-403 or title 33, chapter 6, part 5. (4) When transportation of the child is necessary to obtain evaluations under this subsection (e), the court may order the child transported with the cost of the transportation borne by the county from which the child is sent. (5) If a community mental health center receives grants or contracts from the department of mental health and substance abuse services for services for mental illness or developmental disability and the commissioner has not designated another provider of outpatient evaluation for the court, the department shall contract with the center for evaluation services under this subsection (e), and the center shall provide such services ordered under this subsection (e) by courts in the center's catchment area. (6) If a child who is alleged to be delinquent or unruly is brought before the court, and if the court determines that there is reason to believe that the child is experiencing a behavioral health emergency, then the court may request the services of a crisis response provider designated by the commissioner of mental health and substance abuse services to perform such services under title 33. For purposes of this subdivision (e)(6), "behavioral health emergency" means an acute onset of a behavioral health condition that manifests itself by an immediate substantial likelihood of serious harm as defined in § 33-6-501 . If the crisis provider is unable to respond within two (2) hours of contact by the court, the crisis provider shall immediately notify the court and provide instructions for examination of the child under title 33, chapter 6, part 1. (f) After adjudication, but prior to the disposition of a child found to be dependent and neglected, delinquent, unruly or in need of services under § 37-1-175 , the court may place the child in custody of the department of children's services for the purpose of evaluation and assessment if the department has a suitable placement available for such purpose. If the department determines that there is no suitable placement available, the court shall not order the department to take custody of the child for the purpose of evaluation and assessment. Such pre-disposition custody shall last for a maximum of thirty (30) days and the court shall have a hearing to determine the appropriate disposition before the expiration of the thirty (30) days.

Legislative History

Amended by 2024 Tenn. Acts, ch. 688,s 120, eff. 7/1/2024. Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1052, s 19, eff. 7/1/2018. Amended by 2018 Tenn. Acts, ch. 1052, s 18, eff. 7/1/2018. Amended by 2016 Tenn. Acts, ch. 598, s 3, eff. 7/1/2016. Amended by 2013 Tenn. Acts, ch. 255, s 2, eff. 4/19/2013. Acts 1970, ch. 600, § 28; 1972, ch. 487, § 1; impl. am. 1975, ch. 219, § 1; 1975, ch. 248, § 35; 1980, ch. 639, § 1; 1981, ch. 224, § 29; 1981, ch. 247, § 1; T.C.A., § 37-228; Acts 1986, ch. 836, § 1; 1986, ch. 837, § 1; 1987, ch. 240, § 1; 1989, ch. 277, § 1; 1989, ch. 278, § 35; 1996, ch. 1079, §§ 73, 74, 86-88, 183; 2000, ch. 947, §§ 6, 8C, 8G, 8H; 2009 , ch. 549, §§ 1, 2; 2010 , ch. 1100, §§ 47-51; 2012 , ch. 575, §§ 1, 2.