Are All Cases Involving Abused or Neglected Children Sent to Juvenile Court?
No. Reports of child abuse and neglect are sent to the local Department of Social Services (DSS) for further investigation. If DSS is unable to prevent the placement of children outside the home or is unsuccessful in its efforts to work with families to prevent abuse and neglect, DSS may start a CINA case by filing a CINA petition in the Juvenile Court. What Happens in Juvenile Court? In Juvenile Court, depending upon the practices of the different localities in Maryland, cases are handled by a judge or by a master. Emergency Detention or Shelter Care Hearing In emergency cases where the child’s well-being may be threatened or the child is considered dangerous, the first step is a detention or shelter care hearing. The judge or master may place the child in a children’s detention center or temporary foster care home for a period of up to 30 days before the child’s adjudicatory hearing. Preliminary Hearing At the preliminary hearing, the judge or master tells the child and his or her pa
