Iowa statute
Iowa Code § 232.49 — Physical assessments and behavioral health evaluations juvenile delinquency
Current through 2026 Iowa Code (enactments effective on or before 2026-01-01, through the 2025 Regular Session, 91st G.A.)
Part of Subchapter II: Juvenile Delinquency Proceedings, Iowa Code.
Full text of Iowa Code § 232.49
Statutory text current through the 2026 Iowa Code (enactments effective on or before 2026-01-01, through the 2025 Regular Session, 91st G.A.). This publication reproduces the statutory text of the official 2026 Iowa Code (Legislative Services Agency); it is not the official publication of the State of Iowa.
1. a. Any time after the entry of an order of adjudication under section 232.47, the court may, after a hearing, order a physical assessment or behavioral health evaluation of a child if the court finds that a physical assessment or a behavioral health evaluation is necessary to determine the child’s physical condition or to determine if the child has a behavioral health condition.
b. The court may consider chemical dependency as either a physical condition or behavioral health condition and may consider a chemical dependency evaluation as either a physical assessment or behavioral health evaluation.
c. A hearing to order a physical assessment or behavioral health evaluation may be held at the same time as the adjudicatory hearing.
2. Unless otherwise ordered by the court, if a physical assessment or behavioral health evaluation indicates the child has behaved in a manner that threatened the safety of another person, has committed a violent act causing bodily injury to another person, or has been a victim or perpetrator of sexual abuse, the child’s parent, guardian, foster parent, or other person with custody of the child shall be provided with that information.
3. a. When possible, a physical assessment or behavioral health evaluation shall be conducted on an outpatient basis. However, if deemed necessary by the court, the court may order the child to a suitable hospital, facility, or institution for the purpose of an inpatient physical assessment or an inpatient behavioral health evaluation.
b. An inpatient physical assessment or an inpatient behavioral health evaluation shall not exceed thirty days.
4. a. Any time after the filing of a delinquency petition, the court may order a physical assessment or behavioral health evaluation of the child if all of the following circumstances apply:
(1) The court finds a physical assessment or a behavioral health evaluation to be in the best interest of the child.
(2) The parent, guardian, or custodian and the child’s counsel agree to the physical assessment or behavioral health evaluation.
b. (1) A physical assessment or behavioral health evaluation shall be conducted on an outpatient basis unless the court, the child’s counsel, and the child’s parent, guardian, or custodian agree that the child should be ordered to a suitable hospital, facility, or institution for the purpose of an inpatient physical assessment or an inpatient behavioral health evaluation.
(2) An inpatient physical assessment or inpatient behavioral health evaluation shall not exceed thirty days.
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