Connecticut Juvenile Court and DCF can be intimidating and confusing.
Plus, some DCF Investigations result in DCF filing Neglect Petitions in Connecticut Juvenile Court requiring the parents to appear before a judge and then other times DCF closes their case with no court involvement.
In the most urgent of cases, DCF will request that the judge remove the children immediately and award DCF temporary custody. For a a Connecticut Juvenile Court to issue an Order of Temporary Custody (OTC), there must be a finding that the child needs immediate protection. If the OTC is granted, DCF will usually place the child in foster care unless a suitable relative is available.
If DCF cannot prove at least one of the allegations, the Neglect Petition will eventually be either withdrawn by DCF or dismissed by a judge.
For those cases in which DCF can establish one or more of their claims, the Neglect Petition will play out in one of the following ways:
Protective Supervision. The child continues to live with the parents or guardians but DCF has court-imposed oversight over the family for a specified period of time. The parents are provided with Specific Steps, which set forth what is expected of them to retain custody and ultimately have the case end.
Commitment. DCF becomes the child’s legal guardian. The child’s residence or other placement is determined by DCF.
Transfer of guardianship. A third party (not DCF) becomes the child’s legal guardian. The judge must make a finding that the proposed guardian is suitable and worthy to assume the role of guardian. Ordinarily, the guardian is relative but there are some instances where a non-relative assumes guardianship.
You may contact me by email or by calling my Fairfield office at (203) 259-5251 or in Stamford at (203) 356-1475 for further information Connecticut Juvenile Court and DCF.