41-5-301. Preliminary investigation and disposition. (1) Whenever the court receives information from any agency or person, based upon reasonable grounds, that a youth is or appears to be a delinquent youth or a youth in need of supervision or, being subject to a court order or consent order, has violated the terms of an order, a probation officer shall make a preliminary inquiry into the matter.
     (2) The probation officer may:
     (a) require the presence of any person relevant to the inquiry;
     (b) request subpoenas from the judge to accomplish this purpose;
     (c) require investigation of the matter by any law enforcement agency or any other appropriate state or local agency.
     (3) If the probation officer determines that the facts indicate a youth in need of care, the matter must be immediately referred to the department of public health and human services.
     (4) (a) The probation officer in the conduct of the preliminary inquiry shall:
     (i) advise the youth of the youth's rights under this chapter and the constitutions of the state of Montana and the United States;
     (ii) determine whether the matter is within the jurisdiction of the court;
     (iii) determine, if the youth is in detention or shelter care, whether detention or shelter care should be continued based upon criteria set forth in 41-5-305.
     (b) Once relevant information is secured, the probation officer shall:
     (i) determine whether the interest of the public or the youth requires that further action be taken;
     (ii) terminate the inquiry upon the determination that no further action be taken; and
     (iii) release the youth immediately upon the determination that the filing of a petition is not authorized.
     (5) The probation officer upon determining that further action is required may:
     (a) provide counseling, refer the youth and the youth's parents to another agency providing appropriate services, or take any other action or make any informal adjustment that does not involve probation or detention;
     (b) provide for treatment or adjustment involving probation or other disposition authorized under 41-5-401 through 41-5-403 if the treatment or adjustment is voluntarily accepted by the youth's parents or guardian and the youth, if the matter is referred immediately to the county attorney for review, and if the probation officer proceeds no further unless authorized by the county attorney; or
     (c) refer the matter to the county attorney for filing a petition charging the youth to be a delinquent youth or a youth in need of supervision.
     (6) The county attorney may apply to the youth court for permission to file a petition charging a youth to be a delinquent youth or a youth in need of supervision. The application must be supported by evidence that the youth court may require. If it appears that there is probable cause to believe that the allegations of the petition are true, the youth court shall grant leave to file the petition.
     (7) A petition charging a youth held in detention must be filed within 7 working days from the date the youth was first taken into custody or the petition must be dismissed and the youth released unless good cause is shown to further detain the youth.
     (8) If a petition is not filed under this section, the complainant and victim, if any, must be informed by the probation officer of the action and the reasons for not filing and must be advised of the right to submit the matter to the county attorney for review. The county attorney, upon receiving a request for review, shall consider the facts, consult with the probation officer, and make the final decision as to whether a petition is filed.

     History: En. 10-1209 by Sec. 9, Ch. 329, L. 1974; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 571, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 10-1209; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 515, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 58, Ch. 609, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 271, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 193, Ch. 546, L. 1995.