Điều tra ngoài gia đình

500When concerns of abuse or neglect arise in out-of-family settings, CPS follows additional requirements when investigating a report. These settings may include: 

  • State-licensed and exempt child day centers 
  • Licensed and registered family day homes 
  • Public and private schools 
  • Children’s residential facilities and institutions 
  • Hospitals 
  • Home-based daycare providers 
  • Foster and adoptive homes 

What Happens During an Investigation in an Out of Family Setting?   

Tùy thuộc vào cài đặt, nhân viên Dịch vụ Bảo vệ Trẻ em (CPS) có thể: 

  • Notify state and local agencies and administrators to create a joint investigation plan 
  • Inform the individual managing the out-of-family setting and arrange interviews, observe the facility and review relevant records 
  • Interview and observe the child for signs of abuse or neglect, and notify the child’s parent of the CPS report 
  • Interview the alleged abuser or neglector 
  • Assess child safety and, if needed, develop a safety plan with the family or facility to protect the child and other children 
  • Interview witnesses, including other children, if appropriate 
  • Observe the location where the alleged abuse or neglect occurred 
  • Contact and interview others who know the child and family, such as doctors, teachers or relatives 

CPS cam kết hoàn thành các cuộc điều tra trong vòng 45 đến 60 ngày kể từ ngày báo cáo. Nếu thực thi pháp luật cũng tham gia, khung thời gian có thể kéo dài đến 90 ngày. Trong một số trường hợp nhất định, chẳng hạn như lạm dụng tình dục hoặc tử vong trẻ em, khung thời gian có thể bị tạm dừng cho đến khi nhận được các báo cáo cần thiết. 

What Happens After an Investigation?  

Sau khi cuộc điều tra hoàn tất, nhân viên CPS và người giám sát của họ sẽ đánh giá tất cả thông tin thu thập được trong quá trình điều tra và sẽ xác định xem báo cáo là “có cơ sở” hay “không có cơ sở”. Người bị điều tra sẽ được thông báo bằng lời nói and in writing of the outcome.   

two adult women talking

Disposition Is “Founded”   

Trong CPS, một bố cục của”thành lập” means that the information gathered during the investigation shows that it is more likely than not that the abuse or neglect occurred.  Records of investigations with a disposition of “founded” are kept confidential by local departments of social services. Additionally, the names of the victims and the abusers are kept on file in the Child Abuse and Neglect Central Registry for up to 18 years, depending on the severity of the abuse or neglect. This information can only be released with the abuser’s authorization or by court order.   

Nếu người gây bạo hành không đồng ý với kết quả này, họ phải gửi yêu cầu bằng văn bản đến giám đốc Virginia Department of Social Servicesđịa phương. trong vòng 30 ngày dương lịch after they receive the written notice from CPS. The CPS worker will provide them with a written explanation of the appeals process.  

Disposition Is “Unfounded”   

Trong CPS, một bố cục của”không có cơ sở” means that the information gathered during the investigation did not support a founded disposition.  

These investigations are kept on file for three years from the date of the complaint. They may be kept longer if additional reports are received. The person who was investigated may request the information be retained for two additional years. This information is considered confidential and can only be accessed by local departments of social services.   

If the person who was investigated believes the report was made maliciously or in bad faith, they can petition the circuit court for access to the CPS record, which will include the name of the person who made the report.   

What Happens When một Report Involves một Public School Employee? 

Có các bước bổ sung khi một báo cáo liên quan đến một nhân viên trường công lập. 

  • CPS looks at whether the employee used reasonable force to keep students safe and maintain order. Using reasonable force does not count as abuse or neglect. However, corporal punishment is not allowed. 
  • CPS looks at whether the employee’s actions were part of their job and done in good faith while supervising, caring for or disciplining students. 
  • CPS determines if the employee’s behavior was due to serious carelessness or intentional wrongdoing. 

Special Notifications Regarding Public School Personnel   

Khi một cuộc điều tra thành lập liên quan đến một giáo viên - cho dù là toàn thời gian, bán thời gian, vĩnh viễn hoặc tạm thời - CPS phải thông báo cho hội đồng trường địa phương. 

Nếu cá nhân có giấy phép do Hội đồng Giáo dục cấp và tất cả các kháng cáo đã được hoàn thành, bộ phận địa phương cũng phải thông báo cho Giám đốc Hướng dẫn Công cộng tại Bộ Giáo dục. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Bất cứ ai cũng có thể báo cáo về nghi ngờ lạm dụng hoặc bỏ bê trẻ em. Nhiều người đưa ra báo cáo vì họ quan tâm đến sự an toàn của một đứa trẻ. Một số chuyên gia làm việc với trẻ em, như bác sĩ hoặc giáo viên, cũng được yêu cầu report suspected child abuse and or neglect. Due to confidentiality laws, CPS will not release the name of the person who reported unless a judge orders them. 

To assess child safety, a CPS worker is allowed to speak with a child and their siblings without parental knowledge or consent. The parent or caretaker will be notified as soon as possible after the interview.   

All CPS interviews conducted during an investigation with the child who is the alleged victim are required to be electronically recorded.   

Exceptions to recording are made when the CPS worker determines that:   

  • The child’s safety may be endangered by recording the interview   
  • Electronic recording is unrealistic due to the child’s age and development   
  • The child refuses to participate   
  • The investigation team (which may include law enforcement) determines that recording is inappropriate  

The CPS worker has the right to examine a child for injuries or signs of abuse or neglect without the parent or caretaker’s consent. The CPS worker may take photographs and decide to get a child X-rayed.    

 If someone is being investigated by CPS they have the following rights:  

  • To be notified in writing that they are the subject of a report   
  • To meet with the CPS worker to discuss the report, ask questions, and obtain feedback   
  • To choose someone to be present during any interview with Child Protective Services (CPS) staff. This may include an attorney, at the individual’s own expense, or another trusted person who can provide support. 
  • To record communications between them and the CPS worker, provided all parties are aware of the recording   
  • To accept or decline any services recommended or offered   
  • To appeal the investigation findings if they are named as the person who abused or neglected a child  

Bất kỳ người nào bị điều tra phải thông báo cho CPS trước they move and provide their new address. 

Only an employer, not CPS, has the authority to make personnel decisions or take disciplinary action if an investigation is founded. They will receive a written report stating whether the investigation is founded or unfounded. Staff should speak with their employer for any specific rules and policies that apply when a report is founded. 

After the investigation is completed, they may make a written request to the local department of social services to get a copy of their personal case information. The request may be granted unless there is an ongoing criminal investigation or criminal proceeding, or the personal information in the report could endanger the well-being of the child or other persons. The amount of information provided will be determined by the local department of social services.   

Local law enforcement and the Commonwealth’s Attorney will decide if criminal charges will be filed, not CPS. CPS often investigates with law enforcement; however, the CPS investigation is an administrative process and is separate from any criminal proceedings.  

For additional information about child protective services process, visit Child Protective Services.

Các điều luật liên quan đến CPS có thể được tìm thấy trong Tiêu đề 63.2, Chương 15: Lạm dụng và bỏ bê trẻ em của Bộ luật Virginia tại: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title63.2/chương15/ 

Specific laws related to Public School Employees can be found in Sections 63.2-1511 and 63.2-1516.1  https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title63.2/chapter15/section63.2-1511/ và https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title63.2/chapter15/section63.2-1516.1/ 

Các quy định liên quan đến CPS có thể được tìm thấy trong Bộ luật Hành chính Virginia (VAC) Tiêu đề 22, Cơ quan 40, Chương 730 https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title22/cơ quan40/chương730/