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Protection and Care of Children, and Proceedings Against Them
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Massachusetts General Laws
Administration of the Government
Public Welfare
Protection and Care of Children, and Proceedings Against Them
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Section
1
Declaration of Policy; Purpose
Section
2
To 20 - Repealed, 1972, 785, Sec. 6
Section
21
Definitions Applicable to Secs. 21 to 51h
Section
21a
Admissibility of Evidence; Qualified Experts
Section
22
Visitation of Family Foster Homes; Removal of Child; Discharge of Child to Parent or Legal Guardian
Section
23
Responsibility of Department to Provide Foster Care for Children; Placement With Relatives; Funeral Expenses; Child Profile Form; Extension of Support of Child Until 22 Years of Age; Assignment of Support Rights; Assistance to Foster Care Families
Section
23a
Children Born to Inmates of Correctional Institutions or Jails; Care and Custody
Section
23b
Services to Unwed Mothers
Section
24
Procedure to Commit Child to Custody or Other Disposition; Notice and Summons; Emergency Order Transferring Custody; Investigation; Abandoned Children
Section
25
Hearing; Custody of Child
Section
26
Procedure at Hearing; Order of Commitment; Petition to Dispense With Parental Consent to Adoption; Reimbursement of Commonwealth; Petition for Review
Section
26a
Registration of Interest for Foster Care Placement; Criminal Record Review; Fingerprint-Based Checks; Grounds for Rejection
Section
26b
Grandparent Visitation; Sibling Visitation; Appeal of Decision to Deny Visitation
Section
26c
Summary of Foster Care Providers' Employment
Section
27
Appeals; Procedure; Notice of Right of Appeal; Time Limits
Section
28
Orders for Payment of Support; Who May Bring Action; Expiration of Order or Judgment
Section
29
Right to Counsel; Notice of Right; Court Appointed Counsel
Section
29a
Legal Fees of Minors in Criminal Proceedings; Liability of Parents
Section
29b
Determination of Future Status of Committed Children; Orders; Permanency Hearings; Appeals
Section
29c
Judicial Certification of Need to Remove Child From Home
Section
29d
Notice of Hearing
Section
30
31 - Repealed, 1961, 396, Sec. 5
Section
32
Placement of Children in Private Families; Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment Standards; Individualized Health Care Plan
Section
33
Placement of Children in Family Home Care
Section
33a
[There Is No 119:33a.]
Section
33b
Placement in Family Home Care of Juvenile Who Has or May Have Committed a Sexual Offense or Arson
Section
34
Transportation of Children in Patrol Wagons
Section
35
Furnishing Parent or Guardian Information as to Child; Permission to Visit; Notice; Parents Convicted of First Degree Murder
Section
36
Bringing Child Into Commonwealth With View to Adoption, Guardianship, Custody or Care; Permit; Application; Bond
Section
37
Rules and Regulations of Department
Section
38
Closed Hearings; Publication of Names
Section
38a
Petitions for Order to Not Resuscitate or to Withdraw Life-Sustaining Medical Treatment; Required Recommendations; Appeals
Section
39
Abandonment of Infant Under Age of Ten
Section
39a
To 39c - Repealed, 1973, 1076, Sec. 6
Section
39d
Visitation Rights to Certain Grandparents of Unmarried Minor Children; Place to File Petition
Section
39e
Child or Family Requiring Assistance; Application for Assistance; Jurisdiction; Standing
Section
39f
Child or Family Requiring Assistance; Right to Counsel; Determination of Indigency; Assessment of Costs
Section
39g
Hearing; Determination of Child Requiring Assistance
Section
39h
Custodial Protection of Child; Notification and Placement; Bail; Detention; Right of Appeal
Section
39i
Child or Family Requiring Assistance; Appeal; Rights and Procedures
Section
39j
Repealed, 2012, 240, Sec. 32
Section
39k
Child Welfare Service Needs of Sexually Exploited Children
Section
39l
Children in Violation of Prohibition Against Common Night Walking or Common Streetwalking; Petition for Care and Protection; Appointment of Guardian Ad Litem; Stay of Juvenile Delinquency or Criminal Proceedings; Failure of Child to Comply With Requirements
Section
39m
Dependency Proceedings for Abused, Neglected and Abandoned Children; Determination of Child's Best Interest; Petition for Special Findings
Section
40
To 51 - Repealed, 1954, 646, Sec. 1
Section
51a
Reporting of Suspected Abuse or Neglect; Mandated Reporters; Collection of Physical Evidence; Penalties; Content of Reports; Liability; Privileged Communication
Section
51b
Investigation of Report of Abuse Filed Under Sec. 51a; Removal of Child; Transmission and Filing of Written Reports; Notice to District Attorney; Disclosure of Information by Mandated Reporter
Section
51c
Custody of Injured Child Pending Transfer to Department or Pending Hearing
Section
51d
Powers and Duties of Area Directors; Multi-Disciplinary Service Teams
Section
51e
Reports of Injured Children; Files; Confidentiality; Penalties
Section
51f
Central Registry of Information; Confidentiality; Penalties
Section
51g
Severability of Secs. 51a to 51f
Section
51h
Protective Alerts; Transport of Child to Another State or Country
Section
52
Delinquent Children; Definitions
Section
53
Delinquent Children; Liberal Construction; Nature of Proceedings
Section
54
Delinquent Children; Complaint; Indictment; Examination of Complainant
Section
54a
Delinquent Children; Diversion of Child to Program of Community Supervision or Other Rehabilitative Services; Assessment of Suitability for Diversion; Determination of Eligibility; Diversion of Child by District Attorney; Subsequent Offense During Stay of Proceedings; Effect of Successful Completion of Diversion; Ineligibility of Diversion for Child Indicted as Youthful Offender or Charged With Violation of Certain Offenses
Section
55
Delinquent Children; Summoning of Parent or Guardian
Section
55a
Delinquent Children; Jury Trials; Discovery Orders; Jury-Waived Trials; Appointment of Stenographer
Section
55b
Delinquent Children; Plea; Disposition Request; Pretrial Motions
Section
56
Delinquent Children; Adjournments; Jury Sessions; Appointment of Stenographer
Section
57
Delinquent Children; Investigation by Probation Officer; Record of Performance; Reports
Section
58
Adjudication as Delinquent Child or Youthful Offender
Section
58a
Repealed, 1948, 310, Sec. 5
Section
58b
Delinquent Children; Motor Vehicle Violations; Disposition; Admissibility of Adjudication and Disposition as Evidence in Other Proceedings
Section
59
Delinquent Children; Violation of Terms of Probation
Section
60
Delinquent Children; Admissibility of Adjudication in Subsequent Proceeding; Disqualification for Public Service
Section
60a
Inspection of Records in Youthful Offender and Delinquency Cases
Section
61
Repealed, 1996, 200, Sec. 7
Section
62
Delinquent Children; Restitution or Reparation by Child to Injured Person
Section
63
Inducing or Abetting Delinquency of Child
Section
63a
Delinquent Children; Aiding and Abetting Violation of Juvenile Court Order; Concealing or Harboring Child; Penalties; Defenses
Section
64
Delinquent Children; Powers of Commissioner of Probation; Annual Report
Section
65
Juvenile Sessions; Presence of Minors; Exclusion of Public
Section
66
Detention of Child in Police Station; Commitment to Jail, House of Correction or State Farm
Section
67
Notice of Arrest of Child; Release Upon Promise of Child's Appearance in Court; Detention
Section
68
Commitment of Children Held for Examination or Trial
Section
68a
Diagnostic Study by Department of Youth Services; Report and Recommendations
Section
68b
Special Foster Homes; Detention Homes; Alternate Placements of Child
Section
68c
Diagnostic Services by Department of Youth Services
Section
69
Information and Reports of Superintendents of Schools and Teachers
Section
69a
Information of Probation Officers, Police and School Authorities
Section
70
Summoning of Parent or Guardian During Case
Section
71
Failure to Appear on Summons; Capias
Section
72
Continuance of Jurisdiction of Courts in Juvenile Sessions
Section
72a
Proceedings Upon Apprehension After Nineteenth Birthday
Section
72b
Persons Between the Ages of Fourteen and Eighteen Convicted of Murder; Penalties
Section
73
Repealed, 1964, 308, Sec. 5
Section
74
Limitations on Criminal Proceedings Against Children
Section
75
Repealed, 1975, 840, Sec. 2a
Section
76
To 82 - Repealed, 1964, 308, Sec. 5
Section
83
Repealed, 1996, 200, Sec. 16
Section
84
Warrant of Commitment to Department of Youth Services
Section
85
Department Employees Reporting Animal Cruelty, Abuse or Neglect; Immunity From Liability
Section
86
Use of Restraints During Court Proceedings
Section
87
Placement of Juvenile in Secure Detention Facility or Secure Correctional Facility or in Any Institution in Which Juvenile Has Contact With Adult Inmates
Section
88
Participation in Community-Based Restorative Justice Program
Section
89
Juvenile Justice Policy and Data Board
Section
391/2
Placement of a Newborn Into Foster Care