In re P.N. CA2/1

BACKGROUND

I. The juvenile court acquires jurisdiction over the Child for safety reasons

Mother and father married in March 2012. In August 2013, mother gave birth to the Child. In mid-September 2013, a month after the Child’s birth, mother was hospitalized for approximately one week due to psychiatric issues, including post-partum depression and having suicidal ideations. On or about September 22, 2013, a violent confrontation occurred between mother and father, in which mother brandished a knife and scissors at father while she held the Child under her arms and squeezed the Child’s head with her elbows (the Incident). The police came and mother voluntarily allowed herself to be hospitalized.

2 The police did not file any charges or make any referrals to Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) arising out of the Incident. DCFS became involved when the hospital referred the family to DCFS in order to check on father’s ability to care for the Child.

3 On October 9, 2013, DCFS filed a juvenile dependency petition alleging that the Child came within section 300, subdivisions (a) and (b) as a result of the Incident.3 At the detention hearing on that…