# Mo. Rev. Stat. § 211.011: 211.011 Purpose of law — how construed

> Missouri · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C211_S211.011

## Section

- **Citation:** Mo. Rev. Stat. § 211.011
- **Heading:** 211.011 Purpose of law — how construed
- **Jurisdiction:** Missouri
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** MO Code / Chapter 211 / Section 211.011

## Text

211.011. Purpose of law — how construed. — The purpose of this chapter is to facilitate the care, protection and discipline of children who come within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court. This chapter shall be liberally construed, therefore, to the end that each child coming within the jurisdiction of the juvenile court shall receive such care, guidance and control as will conduce to the child's welfare and the best interests of the state, and that when such child is removed from the control of his parents the court shall secure for him care as nearly as possible equivalent to that which should have been given him by them. The child welfare policy of this state is what is in the best interests of the child.

(L. 1957 p. 642 § 211.010, A.L. 1995 H.B. 232 & 485 merged with S.B. 174) (1968) Procedure of juvenile court which resulted in commitment to state training school did not violate constitutional protection as set forth by U.S. Supreme Court in the case of application of Gault. Ex parte de Grace (A.), 425 S.W.2d 228. (1972) Missouri's Juvenile Act is rooted in the concept of parens patriae and the functions of a juvenile officer and a prosecuting attorney are so inherently conflicting that proper administration of the Juvenile Act does not allow these functions to be exercised by a person holding both offices. Thus, juvenile court, located in county in judicial circuit comprised only of counties of the third class, was without jurisdiction to proceed on petition filed by such juvenile officer. In re F_______ C_______(A.), 484 S.W.2d 21. (1977) Jurisdiction of divorce or dissolution of marriage remains in circuit court where it was filed but jurisdictions of cause as it relates to child custody may in some instances be superseded by juvenile court. Ex parte J.A.P. (A.), 546 S.W.2d 806.

## Nearby sections

- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 211.011 211.011 Purpose of law — how construed.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C211_S211.011.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 211.012 211.012 Status as child determined by then-existing law at time of alleged offense ...](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C211_S211.012.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 211.021 211.021 Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C211_S211.021.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 211.023 211.023 Juvenile court commissioner, appointment, where, term, compensation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C211_S211.023.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 211.025 211.025 Judge may direct any case be heard by commissioner (counties of the first ...](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C211_S211.025.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 211.027 211.027 Findings of commissioner, how submitted — notice of right to file motion ...](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C211_S211.027.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 211.029 211.029 Rehearing, motion filed when — judge may sustain or deny — commissioner's ...](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C211_S211.029.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 211.031 211.031 Juvenile court to have exclusive jurisdiction, when — exceptions — home ...](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C211_S211.031.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 211.032 211.032 Child abuse and neglect hearings, when held, procedure — supreme court ...](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C211_S211.032.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 211.033 211.033 Detention for violation of traffic ordinances — no civil or criminal ...](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C211_S211.033.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 211.034 211.034 Extension of juvenile court jurisdiction permitted, when — procedure — ...](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C211_S211.034.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 211.036 211.036 Custody of released youth may be returned to children's division, when — ...](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C211_S211.036.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 211.037 211.037 Nonoffending parent, child returned to custody of, when.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C211_S211.037.md)
- [Mo. Rev. Stat. § 211.038 211.038 Children not to be reunited with parents or placed in a home, when — ...](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C211_S211.038.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MO_C211_S211.011. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.