How did this happen?

Reporting Alleged Child Abuse and Neglect

  • STEP 1: Someone reports child abuse or neglect (51A report).

    STEP 2: DCF reviews the report to decide if they need to investigate.

    STEP 3: If they investigate, it’s called a 51B investigation.

    STEP 4: During the investigation, if a child is in immediate danger, DCF can take the child out of the home right away.

    STEP 5: DCF then asks a judge to approve the removal.

    STEP 6: If approved, the child is placed in foster care.

    STEP 7: Within 72 hours, a court hearing is held to review the removal, including how the child can respond and challenge the removal.

  • People who are legally required to report suspected abuse or neglect.

    • Home visits

    • Interviews with the person who filed

    • Reports from law enforcement

    • Reports about prior DCF involvement

    • SORI (Sex Offender Registry Information) and CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) check

    • Searching your child’s social media

    • Talking to other people who know you and your children

    • Interview your child

  • Someone reports to DCF that they are concerned that a child is being abused or neglected.

  • Within the first 24 hours of the report, DCF must determine if the child is in imminent danger. They will remove the child if they think the child is unsafe.

  • DCF will investigate within 3 working days of the report to decide whether your child has been abused or neglected. A special investigator called a “51B investigator” will review your story for any patterns of abuse and neglect.

  • During the 51B investigation the investigator can talk to anyone without your permission. DCF is not allowed to tell you who filed the report.

  • Abuse includes intentionally physically harming your child, including injury from discipline.

    • Sexual abuse of a child is abuse

    • Emotional abuse — like insulting or threatening to control — can apply. The report lists the standards

    • Emotional injury means a serious impairment to the child’s intellectual or psychological functioning, shown by a significant decline in normal behavior or performance

  • Any of the below are considered neglect:

    • Being under the influence of drugs when your child is with you

    • Allowing your child to see/hear domestic violence

    • Failure to Protect, or allowing others to abuse your child

51b Investigation Outcomes

  • IF IT IS DETERMINED THAT THERE IS REASONABLE CAUSE TO BELIEVE THAT ABUSE OR NEGLECT HAS OCCURRED OR THERE IS SUBSTANTIAL RISK OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT

    • Caregiver may be added to:
      • DCF’s Central Registry
      • Registry of Alleged Perpetrators

    • DCF will open a case

  • IF IT IS DETERMINED THE CHILD WAS NEGLECTED OR HAS BEEN NEGLECTED IN THE PAST BUT IS NOT AT RISK OF BEING NEGLECTED

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