A. A person taking a child into custody shall, with all reasonable speed:

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Terms Used In New Mexico Statutes 32A-2-10

  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.

(1)     release the child to the child’s parent, guardian or custodian or an adult authorized by the child’s parent, guardian or custodian and issue verbal counsel or warning as may be appropriate;

(2)     release the child to the child’s parent, guardian or custodian or an adult authorized to sign on behalf of the child’s parent, guardian or custodian upon written promise to bring the child before the court when requested by the court. If the parent, guardian or custodian or an adult authorized to sign on behalf of the child’s parent, guardian or custodian fails, when requested, to bring the child before the court as promised, the court may order the child taken into custody and brought before the court;

(3)     deliver the child to a place of detention as provided in Section 32A-2-12 N.M. Stat. Ann.;

(4)     deliver the child to a medical facility, if available, if the child is believed to be suffering from a serious illness that requires prompt treatment or prompt diagnosis;

(5)     deliver the child to an evaluation facility, if available, if the person taking the child into custody has reasonable grounds to believe the child presents a likelihood of serious harm to the child’s self or others or is suffering from some other serious mental condition or illness that requires prompt treatment or prompt diagnosis; or

(6)     deliver the child to a center or organization that the court or the department recognizes as an alternative to secure detention.

B. When an alleged delinquent child is delivered to a place of detention or a center or organization recognized as an alternative to secure detention as provided in section 32A-2-12 N.M. Stat. Ann., only a department employee or a trained county detention professional designated by the department may place the child in detention or with a center or organization recognized as an alternative to secure detention in accordance with the criteria for detention set forth in Section 32A-2-11 N.M. Stat. Ann.. If the criteria for detention of an alleged delinquent child are not met, the child shall be released from custody.

C. A child under the age of twelve shall not be held in detention. If a child under the age of twelve poses a substantial risk of harm to the child’s self or others, a peace officer may detain and transport that child for emergency mental health evaluation and care in accordance with Section 32A-6A-19 N.M. Stat. Ann..

D. If a child is taken into custody and is not released to the child’s parent, guardian or custodian or an adult authorized by the child’s parent, guardian or custodian, the person taking the child into custody shall give written notice thereof as soon as possible, and in no case later than twenty-four hours, to the child’s parent, guardian or custodian or an adult authorized by the child’s parent, guardian or custodian and to the court, together with a statement of the reason for taking the child into custody.

E. In all cases when a child is taken into custody, the child shall be released to the child’s parent, guardian or custodian or an adult authorized by the child’s parent, guardian or custodian in accordance with the conditions and time limits set forth in the Children’s Court Rules.