48.24 Receipt of jurisdictional information; intake inquiry.

(1) Information indicating that a child or an unborn child should be referred to the court as in need of protection or services shall be referred to the intake worker, who shall conduct an intake inquiry on behalf of the court to determine whether the available facts establish prima facie jurisdiction and to determine the best interests of the child or unborn child and of the public with regard to any action to be taken.

(1m) As part of the intake inquiry, the intake worker shall inform the child and the child's parent, guardian and legal custodian that they, or the adult expectant mother of an unborn child that she, may request counseling from a person designated by the court to provide dispositional services under s. 48.069.

(2)

(a) As part of the intake inquiry the intake worker may conduct multidisciplinary screens and intake conferences with notice to the child, parent, guardian and legal custodian or to the adult expectant mother of the unborn child. If sub. (2m) applies, the intake worker shall conduct a multidisciplinary screen under s. 48.547 if the child or expectant mother has not refused to participate under par. (b).

(b) No child or other person may be compelled to appear at any conference, participate in a multidisciplinary screen, produce any papers or visit any place by an intake worker.

(2m)

(a) In counties that have an alcohol and other drug abuse program under s. 48.547, a multidisciplinary screen shall be conducted for:

2. Any child alleged to be in need of protection and services who has at least 2 prior adjudications for a violation of s. 125.07 (4) (a) or (b), 125.085 (3) (b) or 125.09 (2) or a local ordinance that strictly conforms to any of those sections.

4. Any child 12 years of age or older who requests and consents to a multidisciplinary screen.

5. Any child who consents to a multidisciplinary screen requested by his or her parents.

6. Any expectant mother 12 years of age or over who requests and consents to a multidisciplinary screen.

(b) The multidisciplinary screen may be conducted by an intake worker for any reason other than those specified in the criteria under par. (a).

(3) If the intake worker determines as a result of the intake inquiry that the child or unborn child should be referred to the court, the intake worker shall request that the district attorney, corporation counsel or other official specified in s. 48.09 file a petition.

(4) If the intake worker determines as a result of the intake inquiry that the case should be subject to an informal disposition, or should be closed, the intake worker shall so proceed. If a petition has been filed, informal disposition may not occur or a case may not be closed unless the petition is withdrawn by the district attorney, corporation counsel or other official specified in s. 48.09, or is dismissed by the court.

(5) The intake worker shall request that a petition be filed, enter into an informal disposition, or close the case within 60 days after receipt of referral information. If the referral information is a report received by a county department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department under s. 48.981 (3) (a) 1., 2., or 2d., that 60-day period shall begin on the day on which the report is received by the county department, department, or licensed child welfare agency. If the case is closed or an informal disposition is entered into, the district attorney, corporation counsel, or other official under s. 48.09 shall receive written notice of that action. If a law enforcement officer has made a recommendation concerning the child, or the unborn child and the expectant mother of the unborn child, the intake worker shall forward this recommendation to the district attorney, corporation counsel, or other official under s. 48.09. If a petition is filed, the petition may include information received more than 60 days before filing the petition to establish a condition or pattern which, together with information received within the 60-day period, provides a basis for conferring jurisdiction on the court. The court shall grant appropriate relief as provided in s. 48.315 (3) with respect to any petition that is not referred or filed within the time periods specified in this subsection. Failure to object to the fact that a petition is not requested within the time period specified in this subsection waives any challenge to the court's competency to act on the petition.

(6) The intake worker shall perform his or her responsibilities under this section under general written policies which the judge shall promulgate under s. 48.06 (1) or (2).

History: 1975 c. 430; 1977 c. 354; 1979 c. 300, 331, 355, 359; 1987 a. 339; 1989 a. 31, 56; 1993 a. 98; 1995 a. 77, 275, 448; 1997 a. 292; 2007 a. 199; 2015 a. 172.

Under the facts of the case, sub. (5) did not mandate dismissal although referral was not made within 40 days. In re J. L. W. 143 Wis. 2d 126, 420 N.W.2d 398 (Ct. App. 1988).

Under sub. (1), “information indicating that a child should be referred to the court" is that quantum of information that would allow a reasonable intake worker to evaluate the appropriate disposition of the matter. In Interest of J.W.T. 159 Wis. 2d 754, 465 N.W.2d 520 (Ct. App. 1990).

Sub. (5), when read in conjunction with sub. (3), requires that an intake worker request the district attorney to file a petition and does not require the intake worker to make a recommendation that a petition be filed. Interest of Antonio M.C. 182 Wis. 2d 301, 513 N.W.2d 662 (Ct. App. 1994).

Under sub. (2) (b), a parent is not be required to cooperate, and a refusal to cooperate cannot be used as evidence supporting a CHIPS petition. Sheboygan County Department of Health and Human Services v. Jodell G. 2001 WI App 18, 240 Wis. 2d 516, 625 N.W.2d 307, 00-1618.

The receipt of a phone message calling a county social service agency's attention to specific abuse, combined with specific information about the abuse, which the agency labelled a referral, constituted the “receipt of referral information" under sub. (5) and triggered the time period for requesting that a petition be filed. Sheboygan County Department of Health and Human Services v. Jodell G. 2001 WI App 18, 240 Wis. 2d 516, 625 N.W.2d 307, 00-1618.

Section 805.04 (1), the voluntary dismissal statute, does not apply in a CHIPS proceeding because it is different from and inconsistent with sub. (4), which is construed to provide that a district attorney may withdraw a CHIPS petition only with the approval of the court. Kenneth S. v. Circuit Court for Dane County, 2008 WI App 120, 313 Wis. 2d 508, 756 N.W.2d 573, 08-0147.