9:6-8.29 Removal of child without court order.

9. a. A police officer or a designated employee of the Probation Division or a designated employee of the division may remove a child from the place where the child is residing, or any person or any physician treating a child may keep a child in the person's or physician's custody without an order pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1974, c.119 (C.9:6-8.28) and without the consent of the parent or guardian regardless of whether the parent or guardian is absent, if the child is in such condition that the child's continuance in the place or residence or in the care and custody of the parent or guardian presents an imminent danger to the child's life, safety, or health, and there is insufficient time to apply for a court order pursuant to section 8 of P.L.1974, c.119 (C.9:6-8.28), or any physician or hospital treating a child may keep a child in custody pursuant to P.L.1973, c.147 (C.9:6-8.16 et seq.). The Division of Child Protection and Permanency shall not be required to provide reasonable efforts to prevent placement if removal of the child is necessary due to imminent danger to the child's life, safety, or health in accordance with section 24 of P.L.1999, c.53 (C.30:4C-11.2).

b. If a person authorized by this section removes or keeps custody of a child, he shall (1) inform the division immediately; (2) bring the child immediately to a place designated by the division for this purpose; and (3) make every reasonable effort to inform the parent or guardian of the facility to which the person has brought the child.

c. Any person or institution acting in good faith in the removal or keeping of a child pursuant to this section shall have immunity from any liability, civil or criminal, that might otherwise be incurred or imposed as a result of such removal or keeping. d. Any person acting under the authority of P.L.1974, c.119 (C.9:6-8.21 et seq.) may request and shall receive appropriate assistance from local and State law enforcement officials.

L.1974, c.119, s.9; amended 1977, c.209, s.8; 1999, c.53, s.9; 2012, c.16, s.32.