Lehigh County ChildLine Appeal Attorney

Child abuse and neglect allegations are serious, especially in the state of Pennsylvania. One inaccurate and exaggerated phone call to the ChildLine agency can single-handedly ruin your reputation and limit your opportunities.

For the purposes of this article, we will discuss (1) what ChildLine is, (2) the ChildLine registry, (3) and the appeals process applicants will undergo if they wish to challenge a determination.

What is ChildLine?

ChildLine is an agency hosted by the state's Department of Public Welfare. Its primary function is to offer protection for children and youth who have endured abuse. ChildLine's specialists operate a toll-free 24-hour hotline that is completely accessible to the public. People who have witnessed the mistreatment of a child are urged to call the hotline and report instances of abuse. Once an instance is called in, it is the job of ChildLine specialists to gauge the plausibility of this report by analyzing a variety of components. The relationship between a witness and the accused, the accuracy of details within a complaint, and the cultural differences between an observer and parties involved are just some of the factors that will be considered by ChildLine agency specialists. If the report is deemed feasible, a countywide investigation will be launched by ChildLine and Lehigh County's Children & Youth Services to find evidence supporting this report. If enough evidence is found (by the judgment of the agencies), an alleged perpetrator will be notified and listed on the ChildLine registry shortly after.

The ChildLine Registry

If your name is placed on the ChildLine placed, it is present alongside the likes of pedophiles and people who have committed heinous crimes against children. Those who have access to the registry - employers, organizations, law enforcement, schools etc. - will associate you with these types of people. Also, by law, being listed on this registry means that you are forbidden from being in the vicinity of children in social, private and professional settings. This strictly limits your access to potential careers, your involvement in your child's education, and activities that you may wish to participate in. Even events or jobs that don't involve or aren't centered around children may refuse to hire or accept you due to the stigma surrounding child abuse allegations.

The Appeals Process

Once you have been notified of the allegations made against you, you are given a timeframe to appeal this determination and ultimately expunge ChildLine's reports and findings. People in this situation are encouraged to comply with these deadlines, as untimely hearing requests, or an appeal submitted after the given timeframe, are rarely considered and granted. Lehigh County ChildLine cases will most likely be heard at one of the following locations of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Bureau of Hearings and Appeals (BHA):

Central Region:

Southeastern Region:

Philadelphia State Office Building
Commonwealth of PA
Department of Human Services

In a scheduled hearing, a hearing officer will be tasked with reassessing a case with the basis of an appeal in mind. Then ChildLine will be given the burden of proving that you committed the actions in this report with clear and convincing evidence. If the agency fails in doing so, you will be granted an expungement. This means that the report, the findings, your name on the childline agency along with any related documentation will be eradicated from ChildLine and FBI databases.

Lehigh County ChildLine Appeal Attorney

If you have been notified by an agency that allegations of child abuse against you are “founded,” you should consult with an attorney. You have the right to appeal this determination if you feel that these findings are unjust or unfair. For a successful outcome contact skilled legal professional Joseph D. Lento today for assistance.

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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