(1996)

Dear Mr. Harris:

You have requested our opinion whether the issuance of certain "writs of attachment" by the Circuit Court for Howard County, sitting as the juvenile court, is authorized by law. Our opinion is that a "writ of attachment" would be a lawful means by which a child is taken into custody only if the writ is issued after the juvenile court has obtained jurisdiction over the child through the filing of a petition under § 3-812 of the Courts and Judicial Proceedings ("CJ") Article, Maryland Code.

I

Use of Writs of Attachment

As we understand the practice in Howard County, officers of the…