Section 636.
Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 636.
in effect(a)
If it appears upon the hearing that the minor has violated an order of the juvenile court or has escaped from a commitment of the juvenile court or that it is a matter of immediate and urgent necessity for the protection of the minor or reasonably necessary for the protection of the person or property of another that the minor be detained or that the minor is likely to flee to avoid the jurisdiction of the court, and that continuance in the home is contrary to the minor’s welfare, the court may make its order that the minor be detained in the juvenile hall or other suitable place designated by the juvenile court for a period not to exceed 15 judicial days and shall enter the order together with its findings of fact in support thereof in the records
of the court. The circumstances and gravity of the alleged offense may be considered, in conjunction with other factors, to determine whether it is a matter of immediate and urgent necessity for the protection of the minor or the person or property of another that the minor be detained. The court’s decision to detain shall be based on the above factors, and shall not be based solely on the minor’s county of residence. A minor shall be given equal consideration for release on home supervision pursuant to Section 628.1, which may include electronic monitoring pursuant to Section 628.2, regardless of whether the minor lives in the county where the offense occurred. The juvenile court has authority to order the minor be placed on home supervision, with or without electronic
monitoring, regardless of the minor’s county of residence.
If a minor is a dependent of the court pursuant to Section 300, the court’s decision to detain shall not be based on the minor’s status as a dependent of the court or the child welfare services department’s inability to provide a placement for the minor.
(b)
If the court finds that the criteria of Section 628.1 are applicable, the court shall place the minor on home supervision for a period not to exceed 15 judicial days, and shall enter the order together with its findings of fact in support thereof in the records of the court. If the court releases the minor on home supervision, the court may continue, modify, or augment any conditions of release previously imposed by the probation officer, or may impose new conditions on a minor released for the first time. If there are new or modified conditions, the minor shall be
required to sign a written promise to obey those conditions pursuant to Section 628.1.
(c)
If the probation officer is recommending that the minor be detained, the probation officer shall submit to the court documentation, as follows:
(1)
Documentation that continuance in the home is contrary to the minor’s welfare shall be submitted to the court as part of the detention report prepared pursuant to Section 635.
(2)
Documentation that reasonable efforts were made to prevent or eliminate the need for removal of the minor from the home and
documentation of the nature and results of the services provided shall be submitted to the court either as part of the detention report prepared pursuant to Section 635, or as part of a case plan prepared pursuant to Section 636.1, but in no case later than 60 days from the date of detention.
(d)
Except as provided in subdivision (e), before detaining the minor, the court shall determine whether continuance in the home is contrary to the minor’s welfare and whether there are available services that would prevent the need for further detention. The court shall make that determination on a case-by-case basis and shall make reference to the documentation provided by the probation officer or other evidence relied upon in reaching its decision.
(1)
If the minor can be
returned to the custody of the minor’s parent or legal guardian at the detention hearing, through the provision of services to prevent removal, the court shall release the minor to the physical custody of the minor’s parent or legal guardian and order that those services be provided.
(2)
If the minor cannot be returned to the custody of the minor’s parent or legal guardian at the detention hearing, the court shall state the facts upon which the detention is based. The court shall make the following findings on the record and reference the probation officer’s report or other evidence relied upon to make its setting determinations:
(A)
Whether continuance in the home of the parent or legal guardian is contrary to the minor’s welfare.
(B)
Whether reasonable efforts have been made to safely maintain the minor in the home of the minor’s parent or legal guardian and to prevent or eliminate the need for removal of the minor from the minor’s home. This finding shall be made at the detention hearing if possible, but in no case later than 60 days following the minor’s removal from the home.
(3)
If the minor cannot be returned to the custody of the minor’s parent or legal guardian at the detention hearing, the court shall make the following orders:
(A)
The probation officer shall provide services as soon as possible to enable the minor’s parent or legal guardian to obtain any assistance as may be needed to enable the parent or guardian to effectively provide the care and control necessary for the minor to
return to the home.
(B)
The minor’s placement and care shall be the responsibility of the probation department pending disposition or further order of the court.
(4)
If the matter is set for rehearing pursuant to Section 637, or continued pursuant to Section 638, or continued for any other reason, the court shall find that the continuance of the minor in the parent’s or guardian’s home is contrary to the minor’s welfare at the initial petition hearing or order the release of the minor from custody.
(e)
For a minor who is a dependent of the court pursuant to Section 300, the court’s decision to detain the minor shall not be based on a finding that continuance in the minor’s current placement is contrary to the minor’s
welfare. If the court determines that continuance in the minor’s current placement is contrary to the minor’s welfare, the court shall order the child welfare services department to place the minor in another licensed or approved placement.
(f)
For a placement made on or after October 1, 2021, each placement of the minor in a short-term residential therapeutic program shall comply with the requirements of Section 4096 and be reviewed by the court pursuant to Section 727.12.
(g)
For a placement made on or after July 1, 2022, each placement of the minor in a community treatment facility shall comply with the requirements of Section 4096 and be reviewed by the court pursuant to Section 727.12.
(h)
Whether the minor is
returned home or detained, the court shall order the minor’s parent or guardian to cooperate with the probation officer in obtaining those services described in paragraph (1) of, or in subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3) of, subdivision (d).
References
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 628.1.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 628.2.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 300.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 635.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 636.1.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 637.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 638.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 4096.
referencesCal. Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 727.12.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026