| Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 8-817
Arizona
Revised Statutes
Title
8. Children
Chapter
10. Dependent Children
Article
1. Protective Services
§ 8-817. Initial
screening and safety assessment and investigation protocols; investigations
A.
The department shall develop initial screening and safety assessment protocols
in consultation with the attorney general and statewide with county attorneys,
chiefs of police, sheriffs, medical experts, victims' rights advocates,
domestic violence victim advocates and mandatory reporters. Any initial
screening and safety assessment tools shall be based on sound methodology
and shall ensure valid and reliable responses. The department shall establish
written policies and procedures to implement the use of the initial screening
and safety assessment protocols.
B.
In each county, the county attorney, the sheriff, the chief law enforcement
officer
for each municipality in the county and the department shall develop and
implement protocols for cooperation in investigations of allegations involving
extremely serious conduct. The protocols shall include:
1.
The process for notification of receipt of extremely serious conduct allegations.
2.
The standards for interdisciplinary investigations of specific types of
abuse and neglect, including timely forensic medical evaluations.
3.
The standards for interdisciplinary investigations involving native american
children in compliance with the Indian child welfare act.
4.
Procedures for sharing information.
5.
Procedures for coordination of screening, response and investigation with
other involved professional disciplines and notification of case status.
6.
The training required for the involved child protective service workers,
law enforcement officers and prosecutors to execute the investigation
protocols, including forensic interviewing skills.
7.
The process to ensure review of and compliance with the investigation
protocols and the reporting of activity under the protocols.
8.
Procedures for an annual report to be transmitted within forty-five days
after the end of each fiscal year to the governor, the speaker of the
house of representatives and the president of the senate.
9.
Procedures for dispute resolution.
C.
The department, the appropriate county attorney and the appropriate law
enforcement agency shall cooperate in the investigation of every extremely
serious conduct allegation in accordance with the investigation protocols
established pursuant to this section.
CREDIT(S)
Added by Laws 2003, 2nd
S.S., Ch. 6, § 22, eff. Dec. 18, 2003.
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