Bucks County Childline Appeal Attorney

Allegations that entail you have abused or neglected a child are serious, especially in Pennsylvania. Individuals who have acquired criminal charges involving minors or have merely been suspected of mistreating a child are “ChildLined” in the state, or have their name placed on a registry that labels them as a perpetrator of child abuse. A criminal conviction is not required to be placed on the childline registry, as the decision to do is based solely on the discretion of the ChildLine agency.

If you live in Bucks County and have recently received notice that you have been unwarrantedly placed on the ChildLine registry, it's important that you immediately contact an attorney. Your name has been listed alongside the likes of pedophiles and abusers who have committed heinous acts against children. All those who have access to this registry - employers, law enforcement, schools etc. - will associate you with an actual child abuser, severely limiting your access to potential careers, your child or siblings' schools, and any other activities or events that involve children. However, with the help of an attorney, you will be able to appeal this determination and reinstate the rights you once had prior to being ChildLined.

The ChildLine Registry

ChildLine is an agency that is hosted by the state's Department of Public Welfare. Its main function is to protect children from undergoing abuse and neglect by encouraging people to report instances of this behavior to a toll-free hotline. Once the agency catches wind of this report, ChildLine specialists gauge the plausibility of the claim based on a number of factors, such as who the report is coming from, the details provided and other relevant factors. Once a report is deemed viable by the agency, the Buck County's Children & Youth services will work with ChildLine to launch a countywide investigation in an effort to obtain evidence that supports this claim. Once enough evidence (in the agency's eyes) is collected to substantiate a report, the alleged perpetrator will be notified and he or she will be immediately placed on the ChildLine Registry.

The Appeals Process

Once the accused has been notified of ChildLine's findings, he or she is given a short amount of time to request a hearing to appeal this determination. People in this situation should try their best to adhere to deadlines since untimely requests, or appeals submitted after deadlines, are rarely considered. Bucks County ChildLine cases will often be heard at the Southeastern Region office of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Bureau of Hearings and Appeals (BHA).  The Southeastern Region office is located in Philadelphia at the following address:

Philadelphia State Office Building
Commonwealth of PA
Department of Human Services

In the scheduled hearing, an officer will reassess the facts of a case, taking into account the basis of an appeal. The burden lies on ChildLine specialists to prove that an alleged perpetrator committed the acts listed in the initial report with clear and convincing evidence. If the agency can not do so, an appeal will be granted and the report along with any documentation related to it will be expunged.

Bucks County ChildLine Appeal Attorney

If you have been notified by an agency that allegations of child abuse against you are “founded,” you have every right to challenge this determination. Skilled attorney Joseph D. Lento is here to present a solid defense to put unjust or unfair reports behind you. Contact him today for help.

Contact Us Today!

Attorney Joseph D. Lento has more than a decade of experience successfully resolving clients' criminal charges in Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania counties. If you are having any uncertainties about what the future may hold for you or a loved one, contact the Lento Law Firm today! Criminal defense attorney Joseph D. Lento will go above and beyond the needs of any client, and will fight until the final bell rings.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1500 Walnut St, St 500
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 535-5353
Mount Laurel, New Jersey
3000 Atrium Way - Suite 200
Mount Laurel, NJ 08054
8885353686
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This website was created only for general information purposes. It is not intended to be construed as legal advice for any situation. Only a direct consultation with a licensed Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York attorney can provide you with formal legal counsel based on the unique details surrounding your situation. The pages on this website may contain links and contact information for third party organizations - the Lento Law Firm does not necessarily endorse these organizations nor the materials contained on their website. In Pennsylvania, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout Pennsylvania's 67 counties, including, but not limited to Philadelphia, Allegheny, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Schuylkill, and York County. In New Jersey, attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New Jersey's 21 counties: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren County, In New York, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New York's 62 counties. Outside of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, unless attorney Joseph D. Lento is admitted pro hac vice if needed, his assistance may not constitute legal advice or the practice of law. The decision to hire an attorney in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania counties, New Jersey, New York, or nationwide should not be made solely on the strength of an advertisement. We invite you to contact the Lento Law Firm directly to inquire about our specific qualifications and experience. Communicating with the Lento Law Firm by email, phone, or fax does not create an attorney-client relationship. The Lento Law Firm will serve as your official legal counsel upon a formal agreement from both parties. Any information sent to the Lento Law Firm before an attorney-client relationship is made is done on a non-confidential basis.

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