An observation often attributed to Mark Twain asserts that "a lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes." (It is fitting that scholarship recently revealed that this quote should be attributed to Jonathan Swift.) In an era when mistakes and misinformation can spread like wildfire at the click of a button, misunderstanding can take on a life of its own, seemingly in a heartbeat. Consider, for example, what happens when a Dauphin County resident is referred to Pennsylvania's ChildLine system for suspected child abuse. Whether allegations have been made of a misunderstanding or a misstep, the speed with which an individual, their loved ones, and their community can begin experiencing devastating consequences as a result of these allegations is astonishing.
When allegations of child abuse or neglect result in a referral to the ChildLine system, the target of those allegations is said to be "ChildLined." This is a significant turn of events. Once an individual is named in the ChildLine registry, they may be prohibited from certain employment and volunteer opportunities. Their child custody arrangements may be called into question. They may suffer in any number of social ways from the stigma of being labeled as a suspected child abuser. As such, if you have been accused of neglecting or abusing a minor, you need to treat this situation with the seriousness that it deserves. Call us at 888-535-3686 today, or submit a confidential online consultation form to learn more about your rights, your options under the law, and how we can help.
If you haven't already done so, it's time to connect with the respected and client-focused attorneys at the LLF Law Firm. Our skilled team benefits from years of experience helping Dauphin County residents with ChildLine referrals and related investigations, just as we do residents from all corners of Pennsylvania.
What Is Pennsylvania's ChildLine System?
ChildLine is a system run by the state of Pennsylvania. It is overseen by the state's Department of Human Services, and it features a 24-hour hotline. This hotline can be used by both mandatory reporters and any other member of the general public to alert the state to instances of suspected child neglect or other forms of child abuse.
One of the other main features of the ChildLine system is its registry of the names of adults who are associated with reports of child abuse that have been classified as "indicated" or "founded." This means that adults who are being investigated for allegations of this kind of misconduct as a result of a report made to the ChildLine system may end up being named in the registry even if they aren't being investigated for criminal wrongdoing. Names entered in the registry aren't searchable by the public, but they are made available to certain employers.
Although those who are being investigated as a result of a report made to ChildLine are entitled to notice of this fact, mistakes occur, and it's possible for someone to be listed on this registry without their knowledge. This is because the subjects of ChildLine-related investigations aren't protected by the kinds of proactive due process protections that criminal defendants are. To make matters more challenging, it can be very tough to get a name taken off of the ChildLine registry once it's there.
What's a ChildLine Referral?
Once a report of suspected child abuse is received by the ChildLine program, it is then referred to a Child, Youth, and Family Services department in the county where the abuse is alleged to have taken place. This shift is supposed to happen within 24 hours. Every county's process for managing ChildLine referrals is unique, so those who have been targeted by allegations referred to ChildLine need to learn about the process where they're being investigated.
Even though child abuse referrals that come through the ChildLine system don't kick off the kind of due process protocols inherent in the criminal justice system, county workers who receive this kind of referral do need to assess these kinds of allegations to determine if a child's purported situation constitutes neglect or abuse. If county workers determine that abuse or neglect could have occurred, they'll initiate an investigation. This investigation process shouldn't take longer than 60 days, most of the time.
Law enforcement officers may also investigate the same situation simultaneously. Additionally, if the accused is a licensed professional, the state licensing board that oversees their profession might be contacted as well. That Board, in turn, may decide to investigate and/or take action against the professional license of the accused.
The consequences of each kind of investigation related to allegations of child abuse can be life-altering in the worst possible ways. As a result, if your name has been referred to ChildLine, it's important to safeguard your rights and interests by contacting reputable attorneys at the LLF Law Firm immediately.
ChildLine Referrals in Dauphin County
In Dauphin County, the Children & Youth Services Office (CYS), which serves as a sub-agency within the Department of Human Services (DHS), has the authority to investigate suspicions of child abuse and neglect. An investigation may be initiated if the affected child in question lives in Dauphin County or if the ChildLine referral in question is made in Dauphin County. In the event that CYS determines that child neglect or abuse has occurred, the target of an investigation may be referred for follow-up services offered by the County's DHS.
Who Makes ChildLine Reports?
There are two primary kinds of reporters who may call in their suspicions of abuse or neglect to ChildLine in Pennsylvania. Anyone who is required by law, by virtue of their profession or position of influence, to report suspected child abuse or neglect scenarios is referred to as a mandatory reporter. All other reporting, which is voluntary and may be submitted anonymously, is referred to as permissive reporting.
Pennsylvania, like all other states, has enacted a law that requires specific individuals to serve as mandated reporters. Because of this law, those who are legally required to report their suspicions about potential instances of child abuse or neglect can be charged with criminal misconduct and/or face professional licensing issues if they don't file reports as the law requires. This means that many people in Pennsylvania – including teachers, healthcare professionals, and social workers – feel pressured to report their suspicions, even if they may be rooted in misunderstanding.
It is also worth emphasizing that because permissive reporting is done anonymously, it is all too easy for those with malicious intent to file false allegations of suspected child abuse without fear of consequences.
Partially as a result of pressures placed upon mandatory reporters and the anonymous nature of permissive reporting, the ChildLine system is truly imperfect. Misunderstandings, mistakes, and bad faith efforts can lead to the targeting of innocent people. To better ensure that your future isn't compromised by the challenges inspired by an imperfect system, connect with the knowledgeable attorneys at the LLF Law Firm so that we can help you build the strongest defensive response possible against a ChildLine report of abuse or neglect in Dauphin County.
What Happens if a ChildLine Referral Results in a Finding of Child Abuse?
If you are named as the subject of a ChildLine-related investigation, the outcome of this investigation will influence whether you'll be added to Pennsylvania's ChildLine registry. Your abuse investigation will end in one of three determinations. Ultimately, the allegations against you will be deemed unfounded, indicated, or founded.
If CYS determines that there is no credible evidence of child abuse against you, the allegations against you will be classified as unfounded. If so, your name will remain on the ChildLine registry. If, however, CYS finds substantial evidence of child abuse, it will classify its report as indicated. This means that your name will be listed in the ChildLine registry.
If you are also subjected to a criminal trial or another judicial finding and the case against you ends unfavorably, your name will also be added to the ChildLine registry due to a founded classification of the allegations against you. It is possible that even if your ChildLine investigation is initially listed as unfounded if a judge or jury finds you guilty of child abuse or neglect, you could subsequently end up named on the registry due to this "founded" classification protocol.
At the end of the day, being accused of child abuse or neglect is a stressful situation that could result in lifelong consequences. Therefore, while it can be tempting to avoid thinking about an investigation as it unfolds, it's important to be as proactive as you can about protecting your rights and well-being. The LLF Law Firm's capable Criminal Defense Team will treat your case with the seriousness and personalized attention that it deserves.
What Are Your Rights if You've Been Referred to ChildLine?
If you are arrested for child abuse or neglect and your case is filed in criminal court, you will benefit from specific due process rights as your case evolves. ChildLine referral and investigation processes are not associated with these kinds of rights. But those who are investigated by ChildLine do have the right to counsel and to have their legal representative attend all interviews and meetings related to their case. Additionally, those who are being investigated have the right to notice of the report(s) of suspected child abuse filed against them, in addition to the status of those reports and the conclusions drawn at the end of the investigation process.
If the report against you is classified as unfounded or founded following an investigation, you also have the right to be notified of the following:
- Your right to pursue an amendment or expungement of Dauphin County's decision
- The fact that your name, a description of the alleged abuse, and the indicated or founded status of the county's investigative report will be listed in the ChildLine system
- Your right to file an appeal within 90 days
If you choose to appeal the listing of your name and your case details in the ChildLine system, you also enjoy the right to a hearing on the merits of your case. The burden of proof will then shift from you to the county. The county will then be required to prove its allegations against you with substantial evidence.
Dauphin County ChildLine Referrals Attorney
If your name has been reported to ChildLine and your situation is being evaluated by CYS in Dauphin County, you need to have experienced legal counsel on your side. There is far too much at stake to "go at this" challenging turn of events alone. And, partially as a result of how emotional this situation is understandably going to be for you, there are also too many ways in which you can unintentionally damage the strength of your defense if you don't have a client-focused attorney helping to strategically direct the evolution of your case.
It's time to focus on building the strongest possible response to this distressing situation. Allowing the dedicated attorneys at the LLF Law Firm to advocate for your interests is the best first step forward. We can take much of the practical stressors of your situation off of your shoulders so that you can focus on yourself and your family while we do our utmost to secure a favorable outcome to your circumstances.
The LLF Law Firm Can Help if You've Been Referred to ChildLine in Dauphin County
If your name has been referred to ChildLine, try not to panic. With so much at stake, it's important to remain calm so that your personal and professional future can benefit from your focused energy. By enlisting the help of the dedicated the LLF Law Firm team, you'll receive personalized feedback and support that will position you to navigate this situation as successfully as possible. Panicking won't help you and could hurt the efforts that you and our team make on your behalf.
The Criminal Defense Team at the LLF Law Firm has cultivated decades of experience in successfully navigating ChildLine investigations and allegations of abuse and neglect on behalf of clients all over Pennsylvania. We cannot guarantee any particular result, but our track record speaks volumes about our ability to secure favorable outcomes for our clients. You are not alone. Contact the LLF Law Firm at 888-535-3686, or submit a confidential online consultation form to benefit from the knowledge that "help is on the way." We look forward to speaking with you.
