Section 441.175.29. Consultation with law enforcement.

       175.29(1) During the course of a child abuse assessment, the child protection worker may contact law enforcement as warranted and shall contact law enforcement when the worker believes that:

        a.           The abuse reported may require a criminal investigation and subsequent prosecution.

        b.           The child must be separated from the person responsible for the abuse.

        c.           Contact by the child protection worker with the family will result in a volatile and dangerous response by the child or family members.

       175.29(2) During the course of a family assessment, the child protection worker shall not involve law enforcement for the purposes of a joint investigation, but shall immediately refer any information regarding a criminal act harming a child to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

[ARC 1156C, IAB 10/30/13, effective 1/1/14]