Under what circumstances can a child protective agency take a victim into temporary protective custody?

• A. They can take custody after 30 days.
• B. They may do so without a court order in emergency situations.
• C. They can take custody with consent of the DA.
• D. They can take custody only with court order.

Answer: (B)

When a child is in imminent danger and there isn’t time to go to court, a child protective agency can act immediately to keep the child safe. This is known as emergency protective custody, and in those urgent situations the agency may take the child into protective custody without a court order. This quick action is meant to prevent harm while a dependency petition is prepared and the court is notified, typically with a plan for the next steps within a short, defined timeframe. The other options don’t fit because waiting 30 days isn’t allowed for the initial protective removal, consent of the district attorney isn’t required for an emergency removal, and a court order isn’t needed only in emergencies but becomes necessary soon after to determine ongoing custody.