2678

LAWS OF MARYLAND

[Ch. 554

(2) IN ITS DISCRETION, THE COURT TO WHICH
THE CASE IS TRANSFERRED MAY TAKE [[FUTHER]] FURTHER
ACTION.

(B) EVERY DOCUMENT, SOCIAL HISTORY, AND RECORD ON
FILE WITH THE CLERK OF COURT PERTAINING TO THE CASE SHALL
ACCOMPANY THE TRANSFER.

3-810. COMPLAINT; PRELIMINARY PROCEDURES.

(A)    ANY PERSON OR AGENCY HAVING KNOWLEDGE OF FACTS
WHICH MAY CAUSE A PERSON TO BE SUBJECT TO THE
JURISDICTION OF THE COURT MAY FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE
INTAKE OFFICER OF THE COURT HAVING PROPER VENUE.

(B)    IN CONSIDERING THE COMPLAINT, THE INTAKE
OFFICER SHALL MAKE A PRELIMINARY INQUIRY AS TO WHETHER
THE COURT HAS JURISDICTION AND WHETHER JUDICIAL ACTION IS
IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PUBLIC OR THE CHILD. HE MAY,
AFTER SUCH INQUIRY AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION,
(I) AUTHORIZE THE FILING OF A PETITION, (II) CONDUCT A
FURTHER INVESTIGATION INTO THE ALLEGATIONS OF THE
COMPLAINT, (III) PROPOSE AN INFORMAL ADJUSTMENT OF THE
MATTER, OR (IV) REFUSE AUTHORIZATION TO FILE A PETITION.

(C)    THE INTAKE OFFICER MAY AUTHORIZE THE FILING OF
A PETITION IF, BASED UPON THE COMPLAINT AND HIS
PRELIMINARY INQUIRY, HE CONCLUDES THAT THE COURT HAS
JURISDICTION OVER THE MATTER AND THAT JUDICIAL ACTION IS
IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PUBLIC OR THE CHILD. THE
INTAKE OFFICER SHALL INFORM THE PARTIES, PREFERABLY IN
PERSON, OF HIS DECISION TO AUTHORIZE THE FILING OF A
PETITION AND THE REASONS FOR HIS DECISION.

(D)    THE INTAKE OFFICER MAY CONDUCT A FURTHER
INVESTIGATION IF HE CONCLUDES BASED UPON THE COMPLAINT
AND HIS PRELIMINARY INQUIRY, THAT FURTHER INQUIRY IS
NECESSARY IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE COURT HAS
JURISDICTION OR WHETHER JUDICIAL ACTION IS IN THE BEST
INTERESTS OF THE PUBLIC OR THE CHILD. THE FURTHER
INVESTIGATION SHALL BE COMPLETED AND A DECISION MADE BY
THE INTAKE OFFICER WITHIN 10 DAYS, UNLESS THAT TIME IS
EXTENDED BY THE COURT.

(E)    THE INTAKE OFFICER MAY PROPOSE AN INFORMAL
ADJUSTMENT OF THE MATTER IF BASED ON THE COMPLAINT, HIS
PRELIMINARY INQUIRY, AND SUCH FURTHER INVESTIGATION AS HE
MAY MAKE, HE CONCLUDES THAT THE COURT HAS JURISDICTION
BUT THAT AN INFORMAL ADJUSTMENT, RATHER THAN JUDICIAL
ACTION, IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE PUBLIC AND THE
CHILD. IF THE INTAKE OFFICER PROPOSES AN INFORMAL
ADJUSTMENT, HI SHALL INFORM THE PARTIES OF THE NATURE OF
THE COMPLAINT, THE OBJECTIVES OF THE ADJUSTMENT PROCESS,
THE CONDITIONS AND PROCEDURES UNDER WHICH IT WILL BE