LawWiki
HomeCodesSearchGlossaryAPIAbout
LawWiki

Plain English summaries of California law with zero-hallucination AI. Every summary is verified against official source text.

Product

  • Search
  • Codes
  • About

Legal

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
  • Disclaimer

© 2026 LawWiki. All rights reserved.

HomeWelfare and Institutions CodeDiv. 2Pt. 1Ch. 2Art. 7§ 315 Child Detention Hearing Rules

§ 315 Child Detention Hearing Rules

Welfare and Institutions Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 315 Child Detention Hearing Rules

Key Takeaways

  • •If a kid is taken away and not given back to their parents, the court must have a hearing to decide if the kid stays in custody.
  • •This hearing must happen as soon as possible, but no later than the next day after a petition is filed.
  • •If the hearing doesn't happen on time, the kid must be let go.
  • •For Native American kids, this hearing is treated as an emergency and follows special rules.

Example

A 12-year-old is taken into custody by child services because their home is unsafe. The parents are not available to take them back.

The court must hold a hearing the very next day to decide if the kid should stay in custody. If they don’t hold the hearing on time, the kid has to be released.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 315 Child Detention Hearing Rules

If a child has been taken into custody under this article and not released to a parent or guardian, the juvenile court shall hold a hearing (which shall be referred to as a “detention hearing”) to determine whether the child shall be further detained. This hearing shall be held as soon as possible, but not later than the expiration of the next judicial day after a petition to declare the child a dependent child has been filed. If the hearing is not held within the period prescribed by this section, the child shall be released from custody. In the case of an Indian child, the hearing pursuant to Section 319 shall be considered an emergency removal under subdivision (g) of Section 305.5 of this code and Section 1922 of the federal Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978 (25 U.S.C. Sec. 1901 et seq.). (Amended by Stats. 2024, Ch. 656, Sec. 11. (AB 81) Effective September 27, 2024.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

detentionemergencycustodyhearingreleasepetitionfor native americanindian child welfare

Related Statutes

  • § 308 Minor Custody Notification Rules
  • § 311 Minor Detention Hearing Rights
  • § 319 Initial Petition Hearing Review
  • § 290.1 Juvenile Detention Notice Requirements
  • § 307.4 Minor Custody Notification Rights

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Welfare and Institutions Code. Section 315.
View Official Source