Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS

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STATE 

STATUTES

Current Through

July 2014

WHAT’S INSIDE

Purpose of central 

registries

Contents and 

maintenance

Summaries of State laws

To find statute 

information for a 

particular State, 

go to 

https://www.childwelfare.

gov/systemwide/

laws_policies/state/

Establishment and 

Maintenance of Central 

Registries for Child 

Abuse Reports

Every State has procedures for maintaining 

records of child abuse and neglect. Most 

States maintain a central registry, which is a 

centralized database of child abuse and neglect 

investigation records. Approximately 41 States, 

the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, 

and Puerto Rico require central registries in 

statute.1

1 The word “approximately” is used to stress the fact that States frequently amend 

their laws. This information is current through July 2014. States that mandate a central 

registry in their statutes include Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, 

Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, 

Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, 

Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North 

Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South 

Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming.

 Registries in other States, however, may 

be maintained as a matter of administrative or 

agency policy rather than statutory mandate and 

are beyond the scope of this publication.2

2 For information on State registries, see Chapter 4 of the April 2003 National 

Study of Child Protective Services Systems and Reform Efforts: Review of State CPS 

Policy by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant 

Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, and Administration for Children and Families, 

Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau: http://aspe.hhs.

gov/hsp/CPS-status03/state-policy03/chapter4.htm 
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Available online at https://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/statutes/centreg.cfm 2

In approximately five States, the statutes do not authorize 

statewide, centralized registries.3

3 Colorado, Maine, Minnesota, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

 In these States, the 

individual State agencies that received the reports of 

suspected abuse or neglect are required to maintain 

these records. Four States, the Northern Mariana Islands, 

and the U.S. Virgin Islands do not address the issue of 

central registries in their statutes.4

4 Kentucky, New Mexico, and Ohio have no provisions for central registries. 

Kansas does not address the issue in statute but does provide for a child 

abuse and neglect central registry in administrative regulation.

Purpose of Central Registries 

Central registries and the systematic record keeping of 

child abuse and neglect reports serve to assist in the 

identification and protection of abused and neglected 

children. Central registry reports are typically used to aid 

social services agencies in the investigation, treatment, 

and prevention of child abuse cases and to maintain 

statistical information for staffing and funding purposes.

In many States, central registry records are used to screen 

persons who will be entrusted with the care of children. 

Approximately 31 States and the District of Columbia 

allow or require a check of central registry or department 

records for individuals applying to be child or youth care 

providers.5

5 Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, 

Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, 

Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, 

Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, 

Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming. See Information Gateway’s Disclosure of 

Confidential Child Abuse and Neglect Records: https://www.childwelfare.gov/

systemwide/laws_policies/statutes/confide.cfm

 Information is made available to employers in 

the child care business, schools, or health-care industry. 

Most States also require a check of central registry 

records as part of the backgroun

6

6 For more information on requirements to obtain central registry clearances 

for prospective foster and adoptive parents, see Information Gateway’s 

Criminal Background Checks for Prospective Foster and Adoptive Parents: 

https://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/statutes/background.

cfm

d check for foster and 

adoptive parent applicants.

Contents and Maintenance

The type of information contained in central registries and 

department records varies from State to State but usually 

includes the child’s name and address; the name of the 

mother, father, or guardian; the name of any siblings; the 

nature of the harm to the child; the name of the alleged 

perpetrator(s); and the findings of any investigations. 

Some States maintain all investigated reports of abuse 

and neglect in their central registries, while others 

maintain only substantiated reports. Access to information 

maintained in registries and department records also 

varies among States.7

7 See Information Gateway’s Disclosure of Confidential Child Abuse and 

Neglect Records: https://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/

statutes/confide.cfm

 In addition, the length of time the 

information is held and the conditions for expunction vary 

from State to State.8

8 See Information Gateway’s Review and Expunction of Central Registries and 

Reporting Records: https://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/

statutes/registry.cfm

This publication is a product of the State Statutes 

Series prepared by Child Welfare Information 

Gateway. While every attempt has been made 

to be complete, additional information on these 

topics may be in other sections of a State’s code as 

well as agency regulations, case law, and informal 

practices and procedures.

Suggested citation:

Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2014). Establishment 

and maintenance of central registries for child abuse 

reports. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and 

Human Services, Children’s Bureau.
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3

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Available online at https://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/statutes/centreg.cfm

Alabama

Establishment

Ala. Code § 26-14-8

The Department of Human Resources shall establish a statewide central registry. 

Purpose

Ala. Code § 26-14-8

The purpose of the central registry is to: 

• Contain reports of child abuse and neglect

• Prevent or to discover abuse or neglect of children through the information contained therein

Reports or records in cases determined to be ‘not indicated’ shall not be used or disclosed for purposes of employment or other 

background checks. 

Contents

Ala. Code § 26-14-8

The central registry shall contain:

• All information in any written reports

• The record of the final disposition of the report, including services offered and services accepted

• The plan for rehabilitative treatment

• The names of persons requesting information from the registry

Maintenance

Ala. Code § 26-14-8

Requests for information where no report exists may be destroyed 3 years from the date of the request. 

Alaska

Establishment

Alaska Stat. § 47.17.040(a)

The Department of Health and Social Services shall maintain a central registry. 

Purpose

Alaska Stat. § 47.17.040(b)

In accordance with department regulations, investigation reports may be used by appropriate governmental agencies with childprotection functions, inside and outside the State, in connection with investigations or judicial proceedings involving child abuse, 

neglect, or custody. 

Contents

Alaska Stat. § 47.17.040(a)

The registry shall contain all investigation reports but not the reports of harm. 

Maintenance

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

American Samoa

Establishment

Ann. Code § 45.2020

A central registry is established within the Child Protection Agency of the Department of Human Resources. 

Purpose

Ann. Code § 45.2021

Reports in the registry are used to determine the existence of prior records in order to evaluate the circumstances of the child. 
Establishment and Maintenance of Central Registries for Child Abuse Reports https://www.childwelfare.gov

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Contents

Ann. Code § 45.2022

The registry contains, but is not limited to:

• All information in the written reports

• The final disposition of the report, including services offered and services accepted

• The plan for rehabilitative treatment

• The names, identifying dates, and circumstances of any persons requesting or receiving information from the registry

• Any other information that might be helpful in furthering the purpose of this chapter

Maintenance

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Arizona

Establishment

Rev. Stat. § 8-804(A)

The Department of Child Safety shall maintain a central registry. 

Purpose

Rev. Stat. §§ 8-804; 8-804.01

The department shall conduct central registry background checks and use the information in the central registry only for the 

following purposes:

• As a factor to determine qualifications for foster home licensing, adoptive parent certification, child care home certification,

registration of unregulated child care homes with the child care resource and referral system, and home and communitybased services certification for services to children or vulnerable adults

• As a factor to determine qualifications for persons who are employed or who are applying for employment with the State, or

contractors or subcontractors and their employees, in positions that provide direct service to children or vulnerable adults

• Beginning August 1, 2013, to provide information to licensees that do not contract with the State regarding persons who are

employed or seeking employment to provide direct services to children

• To identify and review reports concerning individual children and families, in order to facilitate the assessment of safety and

risk

• To determine the nature and scope of child abuse and neglect in this State and to provide statewide statistical and

demographic information concerning trends in child abuse and neglect

• To allow comparisons of this State’s statistical data with national data

• To comply with § 8-804.01(B), which allows use of the records:

To assess the safety and risk to a child when conducting an investigation or identification of abuse or neglect

To determine placement for a child that is the least restrictive setting

To determine type and level of services and treatment provided to the child and the child’s family

To assist in a criminal investigation or prosecution of child abuse or neglect

To meet Federal and State reporting requirements

Contents

Rev. Stat. § 8-804(A)-(B)

A finding made by a court pursuant to § 8-844(C) that a child is dependent based upon an allegation of abuse or neglect shall 

be recorded as a substantiated finding of abuse or neglect. The registry will maintain reports of child abuse and neglect that are 

substantiated and the outcome of investigations. 

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Maintenance

Rev. Stat. §§ 8-804; 8-804.01

If the department received a report before September 1, 1999, and determined that the report was substantiated, the department 

shall maintain the report in the central registry until 18 years from the child victim’s date of birth. 

If the department received a report on or after September 1, 1999, and determined that the report was substantiated, the 

department shall maintain the report in the central registry for a maximum of 25 years after the date of the report.

All reports of child abuse and neglect and related records shall be maintained in the department’s case management information 

system in accordance with the timeframes established in the department’s records retention schedule. 

Arkansas

Establishment

Ann. Code § 12-18-901

There is established within the Department of Human Services a statewide Child Maltreatment Central Registry. 

Purpose

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Contents

Ann. Code §§ 12-18-902; 15-18-906

The Child Maltreatment Central Registry shall contain records of cases on all true investigative determinations of child maltreatment. 

Records of all cases in which allegations are determined to be unsubstantiated shall not be included in the central registry. 

Maintenance

Ann. Code §§ 12-18-908; 12-18-910

If an adult offender is found guilty of, pleads guilty to, or pleads nolo contendere to an act that is the same act for which the offender 

is named in the central registry, regardless of any subsequent expunction of the offense from the offender’s criminal record, the 

offender shall always remain in the central registry, unless the conviction is reversed or vacated.

Hard copy records of unsubstantiated reports shall be retained no longer than 18 months for purposes of audit.

Information included in the automated data system shall be retained indefinitely to assist in future risk and safety assessment. 

California

Establishment

Penal Code § 11170

The Department of Justice shall maintain an index of all reports of child abuse and severe neglect submitted pursuant to § 11169. 

Purpose

Penal Code § 11170

Information from the Child Abuse Central Index shall be provided to specific persons or agencies for the following purposes:

• For investigating a case of known or suspected child abuse or neglect

• For conducting background checks of employment or volunteer candidates

• For conducting background checks of any person who is an applicant for licensure or approval, any adult who resides or

is employed in the home of an applicant for licensure or approval, or any applicant for employment in a position having

supervisorial or disciplinary power over a child or children or will provide 24-hour care for a child or children in a residential

home or facility

• For placing children or assessing the possible placement of children

• For conducting a background investigation of an applicant seeking employment as a peace officer

• For conducting a background investigation of an applicant seeking employment or volunteer status in a position that will give

the person direct contact with children

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Contents

Penal Code §§ 11167; 11169

Reports of suspected child abuse or neglect pursuant to § 11166 or § 11166.05 shall include the name, business address, and 

telephone number of the mandated reporter; the capacity that makes the person a mandated reporter; and the information that 

gave rise to the reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect and the source or sources of that information.

The report shall include the following information, if known:

• The child’s name

• The child’s address, present location, and, if applicable, school, grade, and class

• The names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the child’s parents or guardians

• The name, address, telephone number, and other relevant personal information about the person or persons who might have

abused or neglected the child

An agency shall forward to the Department of Justice a report in writing of every case it investigates of known or suspected child 

abuse or severe neglect that is determined to be substantiated. An agency shall not forward a report to the Department of Justice 

unless it has conducted an active investigation and determined that the report is substantiated. 

Maintenance

Penal Code § 11170

The Central Abuse Central Index shall be continually updated by the department and shall not contain any reports that are 

determined to be not substantiated. The department may adopt rules governing recordkeeping and reporting pursuant to this 

article.

The Department of Justice shall act only as a repository of reports of suspected child abuse and severe neglect to be maintained in 

the index. The submitting agencies are responsible for the accuracy, completeness, and retention of the reports described in this 

section. The department shall be responsible for ensuring that the index accurately reflects the report it receives from the submitting 

agency. 

Colorado

Establishment

Rev. Stat. § 19-3-313.5

Effective January 1, 2004, Colorado repealed its law providing for a central registry.

The State Department [of Social Services] shall maintain the records and reports of child abuse and neglect. 

Purpose

Rev. Stat. § 19-3-313.5

Records or reports may be used for purposes of employment checks or other background checks unless it is determined that a 

report is to be unsubstantiated or false. 

The State Department may maintain such records and reports in case files for assisting in determinations of future risk and safety 

assessments. 

Contents

Rev. Stat. § 19-3-313.5

The State Department shall provide reliable, accurate, and timely information concerning records and reports of child abuse or 

neglect. 

Maintenance

Rev. Stat. § 19-3-313.5

The State Department shall provide training to county departments to achieve consistency and standardization in entering data into 

computer systems maintaining information related to records and reports of child abuse or neglect. 

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7

Connecticut

Establishment

Gen Stat. § 17a-101k

The Commissioner of Children and Families shall maintain a registry of the commissioner’s findings of abuse or neglect of children. 

Purpose

Gen. Stat. § 17a-101k

Regulations shall be adopted that shall provide for the use of the registry on a 24-hour basis to prevent or discover abuse of children. 

Contents

Gen. Stat. § 17a-101k

The commissioner shall adopt regulations that implement the provisions of this section. 

Maintenance

Gen. Stat. § 17a-101k

The commissioner shall establish a hearing process for any appeal by a person of a determination that a person is responsible for the 

abuse of a child. 

Delaware

Establishment

Ann. Code Tit. 16, § 921

The Division of Family Services shall maintain a Child Protection Registry. 

Purpose

Ann. Code Tit. 16, § 921

The primary purpose of the registry is to protect children and to ensure the safety of children in child care, health-care, and public 

educational facilities. 

Contents

Ann. Code Tit. 16, § 921

The registry will contain information about persons who have been substantiated for abuse or neglect as provided in this subchapter 

or who were substantiated between August 1, 1994, and February 1, 2003. 

Maintenance

Ann. Code Tit. 16, § 922

The registry must indicate ‘substantiated for abuse’ or ‘substantiated for neglect’ and the Child Protection Level as designated in § 

923 for any person who:

• Based on the same incident of abuse or neglect on which the substantiation proceeding is premised, has been convicted of

any criminal offense set out in § 923 of this subchapter or any equivalent offense in another State

• Has been found by the family court in a child welfare proceeding, by a preponderance of the evidence, to have abused or

neglected a child

• Fails to make a timely, written request for a hearing as provided in § 924(a)(2) after being given notice by the division of its

intent to substantiate the person for abuse or neglect and enter the person on the registry

• Is entered on the registry by court order in a proceeding on a Petition for Substantiation

• Was substantiated for abuse or neglect between August 1, 1994, and February 1, 2003

District of Columbia

Establishment

Ann. Code § 4-1302.01

The Child and Family Services Agency shall maintain a Child Protection Register. 

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Purpose

Ann. Code § 4-1302.01

The purposes of the register are to:

• Maintain a confidential index of cases of abused or neglected children

• Assist in identification and treatment of abused and neglected children and their families

• Serve as a resource for the evaluation, management, and planning of programs and services for abused and neglected

children

Contents

Ann. Code § 4-1302.02

The register shall retain the following information about each substantiated and inconclusive report:

• The recipient of the report

• The date and time of the receipt of the report

• The information required by § 4-1321.03

• The ward in which the child lives and other demographic information concerning the incident

• The agencies to which the report was referred and the date and time of the referral

• The agency making the initial investigation, the summary of the results of the initial investigation, and the dates and the times

the investigations were begun and terminated

• The agency making the social investigation, the summary of the results of the social investigation, the dates and the times said

investigation was begun and terminated, the services offered, and when they were offered

• The agency or agencies to which the referrals were made and the services requested, with the dates of the opening and the

closing of the case

• The placements of the child and the dates of each placement

• Court actions concerning the child and the dates thereof

• The date the case was closed

• Other information required for research, planning, evaluation, and management purposes

Maintenance

Ann. Code § 4-1302.02

The staff that maintains the register shall review all open cases every 6 months to ensure that information is current. 

Florida

Establishment

Ann. Stat. § 39.201

The Department of Children and Family Services shall establish and maintain a central abuse hotline to receive all reports made 

pursuant to this section in writing, via fax, via web-based reporting, via web-based chat, or through a single statewide toll-free 

telephone number, which any person may use to report known or suspected child abuse, abandonment, or neglect at any hour of the 

day or night, any day of the week. 

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Purpose

Ann. Stat. § 39.201

The central abuse hotline shall be operated in such a manner as to enable the department to:

• Immediately identify and locate prior reports or cases of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect through utilization of the

department’s automated tracking system

• Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the department’s program for reporting and investigating suspected abuse,

abandonment, or neglect of children through the development and analysis of statistical as well as other information

• Track critical steps in the investigative process to ensure compliance with all requirements for any report of abuse,

abandonment, or neglect

• Maintain and produce aggregate statistical reports monitoring patterns of child abuse, child abandonment, and child neglect

• Serve as a resource for the evaluation, management, and planning of preventive and remedial services for children who have

been subject to abuse, abandonment, or neglect

• Initiate and enter into agreements with other States for the purpose of gathering and sharing information contained in reports

on child maltreatment to further enhance programs for the protection of children

The department shall collect and analyze child-on-child sexual abuse reports and include the information in aggregate statistical 

reports. The department also shall collect and analyze, in separate statistical reports, those reports of child abuse and sexual abuse 

that are reported from or occurred on the campus of any Florida College System institution, State university, or nonpublic college, 

university, or school. 

Contents

Ann. Stat. § 39.201

The department shall voice-record all incoming or outgoing calls that are received or placed by the central abuse hotline that relate 

to suspected or known child abuse, neglect, or abandonment. The department shall maintain an electronic copy of each fax and 

web-based report. The recording or electronic copy of each fax and web-based report shall become a part of the record of the 

report. 

Maintenance

Ann. Stat. § 39.202

The department shall make and keep reports and records of all cases under this chapter and shall preserve the records pertaining to 

a child and family until the child who is the subject of the record is age 30, and the department may then destroy the records. 

Georgia

Establishment

Ann. Code § 49-5-181

The Division of Family and Children Services shall establish and maintain a central registry. 

Purpose

Ann. Code § 49-5-182

The registry shall enable abuse investigators to:

• Immediately identify and locate prior reports of child abuse

• Maintain and produce aggregate statistical data of reported cases of child abuse

Contents

Ann. Code §§ 49-5-181; 49-5-183

The central registry shall receive all information regarding confirmed and unconfirmed cases of child abuse reported to the division.

The abuse investigator shall make a report that shall include:

• The name, age, sex, race, Social Security number if known, and the birth date of the alleged child victim and the child’s

parents or caregiver

• The name, age, sex, race, Social Security number, and birth date of the person believed to have committed the abuse

• A summary of known details of the child abuse

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Maintenance

Ann. Code § 49-5-184

The division shall include on the abuse registry the name of the alleged abuser, whether the report was confirmed or unconfirmed, 

and the investigator’s report. 

Guam

Establishment

Ann. Code Tit. 19, § 13208

There shall be established in Child Protective Services:

• An active file of reports under investigation

• A central register of child abuse and neglect

• A ‘suspected’ file (for cases where an investigation is not able to determine whether a report is indicated, substantiated, or

unsubstantiated)

Purpose

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Contents

Ann. Code Tit. 19, § 13208

The central register shall consist of substantiated and indicated reports of abuse or neglect. It shall be limited to the following 

information: 

• The names and home addresses of the subjects of the reports

• The dates and nature and extent of the suspected abuse

• The age and sex of the children harmed or threatened with harm

• The locality in which the harm or threatened harm occurred

• Whether the report was classified as substantiated or indicated

• The progress of any legal proceedings brought on the basis of the report

Maintenance

Ann. Code Tit. 19, § 13208

If an investigation of a report of suspected child abuse or neglect does not determine, within 60 days from the date of the report, 

that the report is an indicated report, substantiated report, or an unsubstantiated report, all information identifying the subjects of 

such report shall be placed in the Child Protective Services’ suspected file for a period of 1 year. 

Hawaii

Establishment

Rev. Stat. § 350-2(d)

The Department of Human Services shall maintain a central registry. 

Purpose

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Contents

Rev. Stat. § 350-2(d)

It shall be a registry of reported child abuse or neglect cases. 

Maintenance

Rev. Stat. § 350-2(d)

The department may retain records and information of alleged abuse or neglect with respect to a child who is the subject of the 

alleged abuse. Reports of cases that are found to be unsubstantiated or are dismissed by a court shall be promptly expunged. 

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Idaho

Establishment

Idaho Code § 16-1629(3)

The Department of Health and Welfare shall be required to maintain a central registry. 

Purpose

Idaho Code § 16-1629(3)

The registry shall be maintained for the reporting of child neglect, abuse, and abandonment information. 

Contents

Idaho Code § 16-1629(6)

The department shall keep written records of investigations, evaluations, prognoses, and all orders concerning disposition or 

treatment. 

Maintenance

Idaho Code § 16-1629(6)

The department shall keep the records of every person over whom it has legal custody or under its protective supervision. 

Illinois

Establishment

Comp. Stat. Ch. 325, § 5/7.7

There shall be a central register of all cases of suspected child abuse or neglect maintained by the Department of Children and 

Family Services. 

Purpose

Comp. Stat. Ch. 325, § 5/7.7

The register shall enable the department to:

• Immediately identify and locate prior reports of child abuse or neglect

• Continuously monitor the current status of all reports

• Regularly evaluate the effectiveness of laws and programs through the development and analysis of statistical and other

information

Contents

Comp. Stat. Ch. 325, §§ 5/7.7; 5/7.8; 5/7.15

The central register shall record all initial, preliminary, and final reports. The names and other identifying data and the dates and the 

circumstances of any persons requesting or receiving information from the central register shall be entered in the register record.

The central register may contain such other information that the department determines to be in furtherance of the purposes of this 

Act. 

Maintenance

Comp. Stat. Ch. 325, §§ 5/7.7; 5/7.15

The department shall maintain in the central register:

• A listing of unfounded reports where the subject of the unfounded report requests that the record not be expunged because

the subject alleges an intentional false report was made

• A listing of unfounded reports where the report was classified as a priority 1 or priority 2 report in accordance with the

department’s rules, or the report was made by a mandated reporter

• A listing for 3 years of unfounded reports involving the death, sexual abuse, or serious physical injury of a child

• All other unfounded reports for 12 months following the date of the final finding

If an individual is the subject of a subsequent investigation that is pending, the department shall maintain all prior unfounded reports 

pertaining to that individual until the pending investigation has been completed or for 12 months, whichever time period ends later.

The department may amend or remove from the central register appropriate records upon good cause shown and upon notice to 

the subjects of the report and the Child Protective Service Unit. 

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Indiana

Establishment

Ann. Code § 31-33-26-2

The Department of Child Services shall establish and maintain a centralized, computerized child protection index to organize and 

access data regarding substantiated reports of child abuse and neglect that the department receives from throughout Indiana. 

Purpose

Ann. Code §§ 31-33-26-3; 31-33-26-10

The index must include:

• Automated risk assessment for reviewing a substantiated child abuse or neglect case to determine prior case history

• The capability to allow supervisors to monitor child abuse and neglect cases and reports

• The automated production of standard reports that compiles information gathered on forms used by family case managers to

report on child abuse and neglect cases

• The automation of other data for planning and evaluation

• The capability of same-day notification and transfer of statistical information to the department regarding new and closed

child abuse and neglect cases

• The capability to allow child welfare supervisors to review a child abuse or neglect determination at any point after the

assessment is initially classified as substantiated, to confirm the status of the case, and to allow for the consolidated

management of cases

• The capability for adjusting the index’s programming at a later date if additional reporting requirements occur

• A word processing capability to allow case notes to be recorded with each substantiated case

The department shall administer the index in a manner that enables the department to do the following:

• Immediately identify and locate prior reports of child abuse or neglect through the use of the department’s computerized

tracking system and automated risk assessment system

• Track steps in the investigative process to ensure compliance with all requirements for a report of child abuse or neglect

• Maintain and produce aggregate statistical reports monitoring patterns of child abuse and neglect that the department shall

make available to the public upon request

• Serve as a resource for the evaluation, management, and planning of preventive and remedial services to children who have

been subject to child abuse or neglect

Contents

Ann. Code § 31-33-26-6

The department shall store data regarding child abuse or neglect reports in a manner that allows the data to be retrieved based on 

the following, if known:

• The child’s name

• The child’s date of birth

• The alleged perpetrator’s name

• The child’s mother’s name

• The child’s father’s name

• The name of a sibling of the child

• The name of the child’s guardian or custodian, if applicable

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Maintenance

Ann. Code §§ 31-33-26-18; 31-33-27-3

The department shall maintain and administer all reports and documents transferred to and included in the child protection index as 

provided in this chapter.

The department may retain information relating to an unsubstantiated assessment of child abuse or neglect in paper or digital form 

or in other media that is accessible only by department employees with access rights established by the department through policy 

or rule. Information that is retained in the records of the department may be used by the department to facilitate its assessment 

of a subsequent report concerning the same child or family. The department may not rely solely on information available under 

this section to support substantiation of a later report if information obtained in the assessment of the later report is otherwise 

insufficient to support a substantiated determination. 

Iowa

Establishment

Ann. Stat. § 235A.14

There is created within the State Department of Human Services a central registry for certain child abuse information. 

Purpose

Ann. Stat. § 235A.14

The registry shall collect, maintain, and disseminate child abuse information. 

Contents

Ann. Stat. § 235A.14

The registry shall:

• Accept reports of suspected child abuse or neglect

• Maintain records of any previous reports of abuse or neglect of the same child or another child in the same family

• Include report data and disposition data

The registry shall not include assessment data. 

Maintenance

Ann. Stat. § 235A.14

The department shall organize and staff the registry and adopt rules for its operation. 

Kansas

Establishment

Admin. Regs. § 30-46-10 

The Department for Children and Families shall maintain a child abuse and neglect registry. 

Purpose

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Contents

Admin. Regs. § 30-46-10 

The child abuse and neglect registry contains the list of names for individuals identified by the department as substantiated 

perpetrators. 

Maintenance

Admin. Regs. § 30-46-16

The name of a substantiated perpetrator shall not be entered into the department’s child abuse and neglect central registry until the 

person has exhausted or failed to exercise the appeal process. 

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Kentucky

Establishment

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Purpose

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Contents

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Maintenance

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Louisiana

Establishment

Children’s Code Art. 616

The Department of Social Services shall maintain a central registry of all reports of abuse and neglect. 

Purpose

Children’s Code Art. 616

The purpose of the central registry, among other uses, is to provide information of past reports of abuse or neglect to assist in the 

proper evaluation of current reports that may include a pattern of incidents.

Upon the written request of the court during its evaluation of an individual applying to work as a court-appointed special advocate 

(CASA) and with the consent of the applicant, the department shall search the central registry and report to the court any justified 

report of abuse or neglect alleging that the applicant is a perpetrator.

Information from investigations of reports that are inconclusive may be disclosed, with the applicant’s written consent, for the limited 

purposes of evaluating the applicant to be a CASA volunteer, a foster parent, an adoptive parent, or a caregiver. 

Contents

Children’s Code Art. 616

The registry shall contain all reports of child abuse and neglect. 

Maintenance

Children’s Code Art. 616

When, after an investigation, the determination is made by the department that the report does appear to be justified, any 

subsequent adjudication by a court that dismisses petition for a child in need of care involving a report shall be added to the registry. 

Records shall be maintained during the pendency of any litigation involving those records. 

Maine

Establishment

Rev. Stat. Tit. 22, § 4004(2)(A)

The Department of Human Services shall receive reports of abuse and neglect and suspicious child deaths. 

Purpose

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Contents

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

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Maintenance

Rev. Stat. Tit. 22, § 4008(5)

The department shall retain unsubstantiated child protective services cases records for no more than 18 months following a finding 

of unsubstantiation unless a new referral has been received within the 18-month retention period.

Unsubstantiated child protective services records of persons eligible for Medicaid may be retained for 5 years for Federal audit 

purposes. 

Maryland

Establishment

Family Law § 5-714

The Social Services Administration and each local department may maintain a central registry of cases reported under the reporting 

laws. 

Purpose

Family Law § 5-714

The information in a central registry shall be at the disposal of:

• The protective services staff of the administration

• The protective services staffs of local departments who are investigating a report of suspected abuse or neglect

• Law enforcement personnel who are investigating a report of suspected abuse or neglect

Except for information entered [after an individual has been found guilty or responsible in an indicated report], information in 

a central registry may not be used as a sole basis for responding to any request for background information for employment or 

voluntary service. 

Contents

Family Law § 5-714

Each local department shall provide the information for a central registry. A central registry may not include information from a local 

department case file until any individual found responsible for indicated or unsubstantiated child abuse or neglect has:

• Been found guilty of any criminal charge arising from the alleged abuse or neglect

• Unsuccessfully appealed the finding in accordance with the procedures established under § 5-706.1 of this subtitle

• Failed to exercise the appeal rights within the timeframes specified in § 5-706.1

A central registry may contain identifying information related to an investigation of abuse or neglect unless: 

• Abuse or neglect has been ruled out

• The abuse or neglect finding has been expunged in accordance with § 5-707

Maintenance

Family Law § 5-714

The department or a local department may identify an individual as responsible for abuse or neglect in a central registry only if the 

individual:

• Has been found guilty of any criminal charge arising out of the alleged abuse or neglect

• Has been found responsible for indicated abuse or neglect and has unsuccessfully appealed the finding in accordance with

the procedures established under § 5-706.1 of this subtitle, or has failed to exercise the individual’s appeal rights within the

timeframes specified in § 5-706.1

The department shall remove from the name of an individual described above the identification of that individual as responsible for 

abuse or neglect without the necessity of a request if no entry has been made for that individual for 7 years after the entry of the 

individual’s name in a registry. 

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Massachusetts

Establishment

Ann. Laws Ch. 119, § 51F

The Department of Social Services shall maintain a central registry. 

Purpose

Ann. Laws. Ch. 119, § 51F

The department, upon request, may release this data and information from the registry to a child welfare agency of another State for 

assisting that agency in determining whether to approve a prospective foster or adoptive parent. 

Contents

Ann. Laws Ch. 119, §§ 51B(h); 51F

The department shall file in the central registry a written report containing information sufficient to identify each child whose name 

is reported under the reporting laws.

Nothing in this section shall prevent the department from keeping information on unsubstantiated reports to assist in future risk and 

safety assessments of children and families. 

Maintenance

Ann. Laws Ch. 119, § 51B(h)

A notation shall be sent to the central registry whenever further reports on a child are filed with the department. 

If a report is declared ‘allegation invalid,’ then the name of the child, identifying characteristics relating to the child, and the names 

of his or her parents or guardian or any other person relevant to the report shall not be placed in the central registry or in any other 

computerized program utilized in the department. 

Michigan

Establishment

Comp. Laws § 722.627

The Department of Human Services shall maintain a statewide, electronic central registry. 

Purpose

Comp. Laws §§ 722.627; 722.622

The central registry shall be used to:

• Carry out the intent of the reporting laws

• Keep a record of all reports filed with the department

Contents

Comp. Laws § 722.622

The central registry shall maintain all reports filed with the department in which relevant and accurate evidence of child abuse or 

neglect is found to exist. If the department classifies a report of suspected child abuse or neglect as a central registry case, the 

department shall maintain a record in the central registry. 

A central registry case is a child protective services case that the department has classified as category I or category II. For a child 

protective services case that was investigated before July 1, 1999, central registry case means an allegation of child abuse or neglect 

that the department substantiated. 

Maintenance

Comp. Laws § 722.628(11)

The department shall enter each report that is the subject of a field investigation into the Child Protective Service Information (CPSI) 

system. The department shall maintain a report entered on the CPSI system as required by this subsection until the child about 

whom the investigation is made is age 18 or until 10 years after the investigation was commenced, whichever is later, or, if the case is 

classified as a central registry case, until the department receives reliable information that the perpetrator of the abuse or neglect is 

dead. 

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Minnesota

Establishment

Ann. Stat. § 626.556, Subd. 11(a)

The local social services agency or agency responsible for assessing or investigating the report shall maintain records concerning 

determinations of child maltreatment. 

Purpose

Ann. Stat. § 626.556, Subd. 11c(a)

Records of assessments or investigations that resulted in no determination of maltreatment or the need for child protective services 

may not be used for employment, background checks, or purposes other than to assist in future risk and safety assessments. 

Contents

Ann. Stat. § 626.556, Subd. 11(a)

The records may contain information relating to specific incidents of neglect or abuse that are under investigation, petition, or 

prosecution, and information relating to any prior incidents of neglect or abuse involving any of the same persons. 

Maintenance

Ann. Stat. § 626.556, Subd. 11(a) & 11c

The records shall be collected and maintained in accordance with the provisions of chapter 13. 

For family assessment cases and cases where an investigation results in no determination of maltreatment or the need for child 

protective services, the assessment or investigation records must be maintained for a period of 4 years.

All records relating to reports that, upon investigation, indicate either maltreatment or a need for child protective services shall be 

maintained for at least 10 years after the date of the final entry in the case record. 

For reports alleging child maltreatment that were not accepted for assessment or investigation, counties shall maintain sufficient 

information to identify repeat reports alleging maltreatment of the same child or children for 365 days from the date the report was 

screened out. The commissioner of human services shall specify to the counties the minimum information needed to accomplish this 

purpose. Counties shall enter this data into the State social services information system. 

Mississippi

Establishment

Ann. Code § 43-21-257

The Office of Youth Services shall maintain a State central registry of all cases obtained from the records of the youth court. The 

Department of Human Services shall maintain a State central registry on neglect and abuse cases. 

Purpose

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Contents

Ann. Code § 43-21-257

The State central registry on neglect and abuse cases shall contain: 

• The name, address, and age of each child

• The nature of the harm reported

• The name and address of the person responsible for the care of the child

• The name and address of the substantiated perpetrator of the harm reported

Maintenance

Ann. Code § 43-21-257

The department shall adopt rules and administrative procedures, especially those procedures to afford due process to individuals, as 

may be necessary. 

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Missouri

Establishment

Ann. Stat. § 210.145

The Division of Family Services shall establish and maintain an information system operating at all times, capable of receiving and 

maintaining reports. 

Purpose

Ann. Stat. § 210.145

The information system shall have the ability to receive reports over a single, statewide toll-free number. 

Contents

Ann. Stat. § 210.145

The information system shall contain:

• The results of all investigations, family assessments, and services

• Identifying information on the subjects of the report and those responsible for the care of the child

• Other relevant dispositional information

Maintenance

Ann. Stat. §§ 210.145; 210.152

The information system shall be updated within 45 days of the oral report, at regular intervals during the investigation, and at the 

completion of an investigation. For investigation reports in the central registry, identifying information shall be retained by the 

division.

For investigation reports made by a mandated reporter in which insufficient evidence of abuse or neglect is found, identifying 

information shall be retained for 5 years from the conclusion of the investigation. For all other investigation reports in which there is 

insufficient evidence, identifying information shall be retained for 2 years.

For reports in which a family assessment and services approach was used, identifying information shall be retained by the division. 

For reports in which the division was unable to locate the child, identifying information shall be retained for 10 years from the date of 

the report. 

Montana

Establishment

Ann. Code § 41-3-202(6)

The Department of Public Health and Human Services shall maintain a record system. 

Purpose

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Contents

Ann. Code § 41-3-202(6)

The system shall contain records documenting investigations and determinations of child abuse and neglect cases. 

Maintenance

Ann. Code § 41-3-202(5)(c)

If the report is unsubstantiated, all of the records, except for medical records, concerning the unsubstantiated report and the 

investigation shall be destroyed within 30 days after the end of the 3-year period starting from the date the report was determined to 

be unsubstantiated, unless:

• There had been a previous or there is a subsequent substantiated report concerning the same person.

• An order has been issued under this chapter based on the circumstances surrounding the initial allegations.

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Nebraska

Establishment

Rev. Stat. § 28-718

There shall be a central registry of child protection cases maintained in the Department of Social Services. 

Purpose

Rev. Stat. § 28-718

The central registry shall contain records of all reports of child abuse or neglect opened for investigation and classified as either 

court substantiated or agency substantiated. 

Contents

Rev. Stat. § 28-720

All cases entered into the central registry shall be classified as one of the following:

• Court substantiated, if a court of competent jurisdiction has entered a judgment of guilty against the subject of the report of

child abuse or neglect upon a criminal complaint, indictment, or information, or there has been an adjudication of jurisdiction

of a juvenile court over the child under § 43-247(3)(a) that pertains to the report of child abuse or neglect

• Court pending, if a criminal complaint, indictment, or information or a juvenile petition under § 43-247(3)(a) that pertains to the

subject of the report of abuse or neglect has been filed and is pending in a court of competent jurisdiction

• Agency substantiated, if the department’s determination of child abuse or neglect against the subject of the report of child

abuse or neglect was supported by a preponderance of the evidence and based upon an investigation pursuant to § 28-713

Maintenance

Rev. Stat. §§ 28-718; 28-720

The department shall determine whether a name-change order received from the clerk of a district court is for a person on the 

central registry of child protection cases and, if so, shall include the changed name with the former name in the registry and file or 

cross-reference the information under both names.

All reports that are not court substantiated, court pending, or agency substantiated shall be considered unfounded and shall be 

maintained only in the tracking system of child protection cases pursuant to § 28-715, and not in the central registry. 

Nevada

Establishment

Rev. Stat. § 432.100

A statewide central registry for the collection of information concerning the abuse or neglect of a child shall be maintained by the 

Division of Child and Family Services. 

Purpose

Rev. Stat. § 432.100

The division may release information contained in the central registry to an employer:

• If the person who is the subject of a background investigation by the employer provides written authorization for the release

of information, and either:

The employer is required by law to conduct the background investigation of the person for employment purposes.

The person who is the subject of the background investigation could, in the course of his or her employment, have regular 

and substantial contact with children or elderly persons who require assistance or care from other persons.

• The release of information may be only to the extent necessary to inform the employer whether the person who is the subject

of the background investigation has been found to have abused or neglected a child.

Contents

Rev. Stat. § 432.100

The central registry must contain:

• Information in any substantiated report of child abuse or neglect made pursuant to § 432B.220

• Statistical information on the protective services provided in this State

• Any other information the division determines to be in furtherance of the law

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Maintenance

Rev. Stat. § 432.110

The division shall maintain a record of:

• The names and identifying data, dates, and circumstances of any persons requesting or receiving information from the central

registry

• Any other information that might be helpful in furthering the purposes of the reporting laws

The division is not required to maintain a record of information concerning requests for information from or the receipt of information 

by employees of an agency that provides child welfare services. 

New Hampshire

Establishment

Rev. Stat. § 169-C:35

A State central registry shall be established by the Department of Health and Human Services. 

Purpose

Rev. Stat. § 169-C:35

The purpose of the registry is maintaining a record of founded reports of child abuse and neglect. 

Contents

Rev. Stat. § 169-C:35

Founded reports shall be maintained in the central registry. 

Maintenance

Rev. Stat. § 169-C:35-a

Founded reports of abuse and neglect shall be retained for a period of 7 years subject to an individual’s right to petition for the 

earlier removal of his or her name from the central registry.

The department shall retain a screened-out report for 1 year from the date that the report was screened out. A report is ‘screened 

out’ when the department has determined it does not rise to the level of a credible report of abuse or neglect and is not referred for 

assessment. The department shall retain an unfounded report for 3 years from the date that the department determined the case to 

be unfounded.

The department shall retain a founded report for 7 years from the date that the department closes the case. This paragraph shall not 

apply to foster placement records or to adoption records.

Nothing in this section shall prevent the department from retaining generic, nonidentifying information that is required for State and 

Federal reporting and management purposes. 

New Jersey

Establishment

Ann. Stat. § 9:6-8.11

The Division of Youth and Family Services in Trenton shall maintain the central registry. 

Purpose

Ann. Stat. § 9:6-8.11

The child abuse registry shall be the repository of all information regarding child abuse or neglect that is accessible to the public 

pursuant to State and Federal law. No information received in the child abuse registry shall be considered as a public record within 

the meaning of § 47:1A-1 or § 47:1A-5, et seq. 

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Contents

Ann. Stat. § 9:6-8.10

Reports shall contain, where possible:

• The names and addresses of the child and his or her parents, guardian, or other person having custody and control of the child

• The child’s age

• The nature and extent of the child’s injuries, abuse, or maltreatment, including any evidence of previous injuries, abuse, or

maltreatment

• Any other information that might be helpful

Maintenance

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

New Mexico

Establishment

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Purpose

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Contents

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Maintenance

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

New York

Establishment

Soc. Serv. Law § 422

There shall be established within the Office of Child and Family Services a statewide central register. 

Purpose

Soc. Serv. Law § 422

The central register shall be capable of:

• Receiving telephone calls alleging child abuse or maltreatment

• Immediately identifying prior reports of child abuse or maltreatment

• Monitoring the provision of child protective service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

• Determining the existence of prior reports in order to evaluate the condition or circumstances of a child

Contents

Soc. Serv. Law § 422

The central register shall include, but not be limited to, the following: 

• All information in the written report

• A record of the final disposition of the report, including services offered and accepted

• The plan for rehabilitative treatment

• The names and identifying data, dates, and circumstances of any person requesting or receiving information from the register

• Any other information believed to be helpful

Maintenance

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

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North Carolina

Establishment

Gen. Stat. §§ 7B-311; 7B-101(18a)

The Department of Health and Human Services shall maintain a central registry. The department also shall maintain a list of 

responsible individuals. A ‘responsible individual’ is defined as a parent, guardian, custodian, or caregiver who abuses or seriously 

neglects a juvenile. 

Purpose

Gen. Stat. § 7B-311

The central registry shall be used:

• To compile data for the appropriate study of the extent of abuse and neglect in the State

• To identify repeated abuses of the same juvenile or other juveniles in the same family

The department may provide information from the responsible individuals list to child-caring institutions, child-placing agencies, 

group home facilities, and other providers of foster care, child care, or adoption services that need to determine the fitness of 

individuals to care for or adopt children. 

Contents

Gen. Stat. § 7B-311

The central registry shall contain cases of child abuse, neglect, dependency, and child fatalities that are the result of alleged 

maltreatment. 

Maintenance

Gen. Stat. § 7B-311

Data shall be confidential and subject to policies adopted by the Social Services Commission for its use and appropriate disclosure.

The Social Services Commission shall adopt rules regarding the operation of the central registry and responsible individuals list, 

including procedures for each of the following:

• Filing data

• Notifying an individual that the individual has been determined by the director to be a responsible individual

• Correcting and expunging information

• Determining persons who are authorized to receive information from the responsible individuals list

• Releasing information from the responsible individuals list to authorized requestors

• Gathering statistical information

• Keeping and maintaining information placed in the registry and on the responsible individuals list

North Dakota

Establishment

Cent. Code § 50-25.1-05.5

The Division of Children and Family Services shall maintain a child abuse information index. 

Purpose

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Contents

Cent. Code § 50-25.1-05.5

The index shall contain all reports of decisions that services are required for child abuse, neglect, or death resulting from abuse or 

neglect. 

Maintenance

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

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Northern Mariana Islands

Establishment

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Purpose

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Contents

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Maintenance

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Ohio

Establishment

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Purpose

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Contents

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Maintenance

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Oklahoma

Establishment

Ann. Stat. Tit. 10A, § 1-2-108

There is established within the Department of Human Services an information system. 

Purpose

Ann. Stat. Tit. 10A, § 1-2-108

The information system will be used to maintain all reports of child abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect. 

Contents

Ann. Stat. Tit. 10A, § 1-2-108

The records shall contain:

• All information in the written report

• A record of the final disposition of the report, including services offered and accepted

• The plan for rehabilitative treatment

• Other relevant information

Maintenance

Ann. Stat. Tit. 10A, § 1-2-108

The Division of Children and Family Services of the Department of Human Services shall be responsible for maintaining a suitably 

cross-indexed system of all the reports. Records shall be maintained by the department until otherwise provided by law. 

Oregon

Establishment

Rev. Stat. § 419B.030

A central registry shall be established and maintained by the Department of Human Services. 

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Purpose

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Contents

Rev. Stat. § 419B.030

Local offices of the department shall report to the registry in writing when an investigation shows reasonable cause to believe that a 

child has been abused. 

Maintenance

Rev. Stat. § 419B.030

The registry shall contain current information from reports catalogued by both the name of the child and the name of the family. 

Pennsylvania

Establishment

Cons. Stat. Tit. 23, § 6331

• Reports of suspected child abuse pending investigations

• Reports with a status of pending juvenile court or pending criminal court action

•

Effective December 31, 2014: There shall be established in the Department of Public Welfare a statewide database of protective 

services that shall include the following:

Indicated and founded reports of child abuse

• Unfounded reports of child abuse awaiting expunction

• Unfounded reports accepted for services

• Reports alleging the need for general protective services

• General protective services reports that have been determined to be valid

• Reports alleging the need for general protective services that have been determined invalid and are awaiting expunction

• Family case records for all reports accepted for investigation, assessment, or services

• Information on reports made to the agency but not accepted for investigation or assessment

• False reports of child abuse pursuant to a conviction under title 18, § 4906.1 (relating to false reports of child abuse) for the

purpose of identifying and tracking patterns of intentionally false reports

Purpose

Cons. Stat. Tit. 23, §§ 6333; 6342(a)

Effective December 31, 2014: The department shall use the information for immediately identifying prior reports in the statewide 

database, reports under investigation with a pending status, and monitoring the provision of child protective services 24 hours a day, 

7 days a week.

The department may conduct or authorize the conducting of studies of the data contained in the statewide database and by county 

agencies and distribute the results of the studies. 

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Contents

Cons. Stat. Tit. 23, § 6336

Effective December 31, 2014: The statewide database shall include the following information:

• The names, Social Security numbers, age, race, ethnicity, sex, and home addresses of the subjects of the report

• The date, nature, and extent of the alleged instance that created the need for protective services

• The county in which the alleged incidents occurred

• Family composition

• The names and relationships of the child and other persons named in the report

• Factors contributing to the need for protective services

• The source of the report

• Services planned or provided

• If the report alleges child abuse, whether the report was determined to be founded, indicated, or unfounded

• If the report alleged the child was in need of general protective services, whether the report was valid or invalid

• If the report was accepted for services and the reasons for the acceptance

• If the report was not accepted for services, the reason the report was not accepted and whether the family was referred to

other community services

• Information obtained by the department in relation to a perpetrator’s or school employee’s request to release, amend, or

expunge information retained by the department

• The progress of any legal proceedings based on the report

• Whether a criminal investigation has been undertaken and the result

• If an unfounded or invalid report is later determined to be a false report, a notation to that effect regarding the status of the

report

• Unfounded reports of child abuse, limited to the information relating to disposition and expunction of the reports

• Any additional demographic information needed for data studies

• A family case record for each family accepted for investigation, assessment, or services

• For cases that are not accepted for investigation, assessment, or referral to community services, the reason the report was not

accepted and any information on other services provided to the family

Maintenance

Cons. Stat. Tit. 23, § 6338

Effective December 31, 2014: When a report of suspected child abuse is determined by the appropriate county agency to be a 

founded report or an indicated report, the status of the report shall be changed from pending to founded or indicated in the 

statewide database. 

The statewide database shall indefinitely retain the names of perpetrators of child abuse and school employees who are subjects of 

founded or indicated reports only if the individual’s Social Security number or date of birth is known to the department. The entry in 

the statewide database shall not include identifying information regarding other subjects of the report. 

Puerto Rico

Establishment

Ann. Laws Tit. 8, § 444d(a)

A central registry shall be established as a component of the Commonwealth Center for the Protection of Minors. 

Purpose

Ann. Laws Tit. 8, § 444d(a)

This central registry shall be organized:

• To allow identification of prior referrals and prior protection cases and the status thereof

• To analyze periodically the statistical data and any other information that may allow assessment of the effectiveness of service

programs

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26

Contents

Ann. Laws Tit. 8, § 444d(a)

The central registry shall contain but shall not be limited to:

• All information in any written report confirming abuse, institutional abuse, neglect, and institutional neglect

• The services offered and accepted

• The rehabilitation treatment plan

• The name, date, and other data regarding any person who requests or receives information from the central registry

• Any other information that may be useful to achieve the purposes of this chapter

Maintenance

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Rhode Island

Establishment

Gen. Laws § 42-72-7

There shall be established a central registry within the Department for Children and Their Families. 

Purpose

Gen. Laws § 42-72-7

The central registry shall be responsible for the collection, receipt, dissemination, reporting, and maintenance of all files relating to 

children. 

Contents

Gen. Laws § 42-72-7

The central registry will be the main repository for all case files and shall establish uniform forms and standards for data acquisition 

and transmission.

The department shall continuously maintain a management information database that includes all of the information required to 

implement this section, including the number of cases reported by hospitals, health-care centers, emergency rooms, and other 

appropriate health-care facilities. 

Maintenance

Gen. Laws §§ 40-11-3(a); 42-72-7(b)

The electronically recorded records, properly indexed by date and other essential identifying data, shall be maintained for a 

minimum of 3 years.

Any request for information, assistance, and investigation of complaints must be registered with the central registry in order to 

ensure the elimination of duplication and for gathering statistical data. 

South Carolina

Establishment

Ann. Code § 63-7-1920

The Department of Social Services must maintain a Central Registry of Child Abuse and Neglect within the department’s child 

protective services unit. 

Purpose

Ann. Code § 63-7-1910

The purpose of the central registry is to:

• Establish a system for the identification of abused and neglected children and those who are responsible for their welfare

• Provide a system for the coordination of reports concerning abused and neglected children

• Provide data for determining the incidence and prevalence of child abuse and neglect in this State

To further these purposes, the department must maintain one or more statewide data systems concerning cases reported to it 

pursuant to this article. 

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27

Contents

Ann. Code § 63-7-1920

Perpetrators of child abuse and neglect must be entered in the registry only by order of a court as provided for in this subarticle and 

§ 17-25-135 or as provided for in § 63-7-1230.

Each entry in the registry must be accompanied by information further identifying the person, including, but not limited to, the 

person’s date of birth, address, and any other identifying characteristics, and describing the abuse or neglect committed by the 

person. 

Maintenance

Ann. Code § 63-7-1920

The Central Registry of Child Abuse and Neglect must not contain information from reports classified as unfounded. Other 

department records and databases must treat unfounded cases as provided for in § 63-7-930. 

South Dakota

Establishment

Ann. Laws § 26-8A-10

The Department of Social Services shall be the central registry for reports of suspected child abuse or neglect. 

Purpose

Ann. Laws §§ 26-8A-12.1; 26-8A-12.2; 26-8A-12.3

The department may check the registry for findings of child abuse or neglect for any of the following persons:

• Current or potential employees for Head Start programs

• Potential foster or adoptive parents

• Current or potential employees or volunteers for the Juvenile Division of the Department of Corrections

• Current or potential employees or volunteers for any adolescent treatment program operated by the Department of Human

Services

• Any entity recognized as administering a court-appointed special advocates program as provided in § 16-2-51

• A court considering appointment of a guardian ad litem for a child

• Foster care or adoptive parent applicants

Contents

Ann. Laws § 26-8A-10

A report shall include:

• The name, address, date, and place of birth of the child

• The name and address of the child’s parent, guardian, or other responsible person

• The date of report

• The suspected or proven instances of child abuse or neglect

Maintenance

Ann. Laws § 26-8A-12

The department will adopt rules for the operation of the registry, including:

• Filing of reports

• Procedures for notice to the subject of the report

• Amendment and expunction

• Release of information

• Statistical information

• Provisions for maintenance of records and the type of information placed in the registry

The secretary may not adopt any rule that would permit the removal from the central registry of any person who has been convicted 

of any violation of chapter 22-22 [sex offenses], chapter 22-24A [obscenity and indecency], § 22-22A-3 [aggravated incest], or § 26-10-1 

[felony abuse of or cruelty to a minor], if the victim of such crime was a child. 

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Utah

Tennessee

Establishment

Ann. Code § 37-1-406

The Department of Children’s Services shall maintain an abuse registry. 

Purpose

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Contents

Ann. Code § 37-1-406

The registry shall maintain the findings of investigations of reports of child abuse or neglect. 

Maintenance

Ann. Laws § 37-1-406

No later than 60 days after receiving the initial report, the department shall determine whether a report of abuse was indicated or 

unfounded and report its findings to the department’s abuse registry. 

Texas

Establishment

Family Code § 261.002

The Department of Protective and Regulatory Services shall establish and maintain a central registry. 

Purpose

Family Code § 261.002

The rules shall provide for cooperation with local child services agencies and with other States in exchanging reports. The 

department shall use the information obtained to perform the background checks required under § 42.056 of the Human Resources 

Code. 

Contents

Family Code § 261.002

The registry shall maintain reported cases of child abuse or neglect. 

Maintenance

Family Code § 261.002

The department may adopt rules and regulations as are necessary to carry out this section. 

Establishment

Ann. Code § 62A-4a-1003

The Division of Child and Family Services shall develop and implement a management information system that meets the 

requirements of this section and Federal law and regulation. 

Purpose

Ann. Code § 62A-4a-1003

The information and records in the system may, to the extent required by title IV-B or IV-E of the Social Security Act, be provided by 

the division:

• To comply with abuse and neglect registry checks requested by other States

• To the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for purposes of maintaining an electronic national registry of

substantiated cases of abuse and neglect

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Contents

Ann. Code § 62A-4a-1003

With regard to all child welfare cases, the management information system shall provide each caseworker and the department’s 

office of licensing with a complete history of each child in that worker’s caseload exclusively for the purposes of foster parent 

licensure and monitoring, including:

• A record of all past action taken by the division with regard to that child and the child’s siblings

• The complete case history and all reports and information in the control or keeping of the division regarding that child and the

child’s siblings

• The number of times the child has been in the custody of the division

• The cumulative period of time the child has been in the custody of the division

• A record of all reports of abuse or neglect received by the division with regard to that child’s parent, parents, or guardian

including:

For each report, documentation of the latest status or final outcome or determination

Information that indicates whether each report was found to be supported, unsupported, substantiated by a juvenile court, 

unsubstantiated by a juvenile court, or without merit

• The number of times the child’s parent or parents failed any child and family plan

• The number of different caseworkers who have been assigned to that child in the past

Maintenance

Ann. Code § 62A-4a-1003

The management information system shall also:

Contain all key elements of each family’s current child and family plan, including dates and number of times the plan has been 

judicially reviewed, the number of times the parent has failed that child and family plan, and the exact length of time the plan has 

been in effect

Alert caseworkers regarding deadlines for completion of compliance with policy, including child and family plans 

Vermont

Establishment

Ann. Stat. Tit. 33, § 4916

The Commissioner of Social and Rehabilitation Services shall maintain a child protection registry that shall contain a record of all 

investigations that have resulted in a substantiated report on or after January 1, 1992. 

Purpose

Ann. Stat. Tit. 33, § 4916

The commissioner shall adopt rules to permit use of the registry records as authorized by this subchapter while preserving 

confidentiality of the registry and other department records related to abuse and neglect. 

Contents

Ann. Stat. Tit. 33, § 4916

A registry record means an entry in the child protection registry that consists of the name of an individual substantiated for child 

abuse or neglect, the date of the finding, the nature of the finding, and at least one other personal identifier, other than a name, 

listed in order to avoid the possibility of misidentification.

For all substantiated reports of child abuse or neglect made on or after the date the final rules are adopted, the commissioner shall 

create a registry record that reflects a designated child protection level related to the risk of future harm to children. This system of 

child protection levels shall be based upon an evaluation of the risk the person responsible for the abuse or neglect poses to the 

safety of children. The risk evaluation shall include consideration of the following factors:

• The nature of the conduct and the extent of the child’s injury, if any

• The person’s prior history of child abuse or neglect either as a victim or perpetrator

• The person’s response to the investigation and willingness to engage in recommended services

• The person’s age and developmental maturity

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Maintenance

Ann. Stat. Tit. 33, § 4916

The commissioner shall develop rules for the implementation of a system of child protection registry levels for substantiated cases. 

The rules shall address: 

• Length of time a person’s name appears on the registry

• When and how names are expunged from the registry

• Whether the person is a juvenile or an adult

• Whether the person was charged with or convicted of a criminal offense arising out of the incident of abuse of neglect

• Whether a family court has made any findings against the person

Virgin Islands

Establishment

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Purpose

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Contents

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Maintenance

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Virginia

Establishment

Ann. Code § 63.2-1514

The State Department of Social Services shall maintain a child abuse and neglect information system that includes a central registry 

of founded complaints. 

Purpose

Ann. Code § 63.2-1514

The purpose of these records is to provide local departments with information regarding prior complaints or reports. 

Contents

Ann. Code §§ 63.2-1514; 63.2-1515

The central registry shall include founded reports and such information as prescribed by State board regulation. When the founded 

case does not name a parent or guardian of the child as the abuser, the child’s name shall not be entered in the registry without 

permission of the parent or guardian. 

Maintenance

Ann. Code § 63.2-1514

All records related to founded cases of child sexual abuse involving injuries or conditions, real or threatened, that result in or were 

likely to have resulted in serious harm to a child shall be maintained by the local department for a period of 25 years from the date of 

the complaint. The department shall maintain all unfounded investigations, family assessments, and reports determined not to be 

valid in a record that is separate from the central registry.

The record of unfounded investigations and complaints and reports determined not valid shall be purged 1 year after the date of 

the complaint or report if there are no subsequent complaints or reports regarding the same child or the person who is the subject 

of the complaint or report in that 1 year. The local department shall retain such records for an additional period of up to 2 years if 

requested in writing by the person who is the subject of such complaint or report. 

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Washington

Establishment

Rev. Code § 26.44.030(17)

The State Department of Social and Health Services shall maintain a child abuse and neglect database. 

Purpose

Rev. Code § 26.44.030(17)

The database shall contain investigation records. 

Contents

Rev. Code § 26.44.030(17)

The department shall maintain investigation records and shall maintain a log of screened-out nonabusive cases. 

Maintenance

Rev. Code §§ 26.44.030(17); 26.44.031

The department shall conduct timely and periodic reviews of all founded cases of abuse and neglect.

An unfounded or inconclusive report shall be maintained no longer than 6 years after completion of the investigation, unless a prior 

or subsequent founded report has been received regarding the child who is the subject of the report; a sibling or half-sibling of the 

child; or a parent, guardian, or legal custodian of the child.

The department may keep records concerning founded reports of child abuse or neglect as the department determines by rule. 

West Virginia

Establishment

Ann. Code § 49-6A-9

Each local child protective services office shall receive reports. 

Purpose

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Contents

Ann. Code § 49-6A-9

Each local child protective services office shall receive all reports of children known or suspected to be abused or neglected. 

Maintenance

Ann. Code § 49-6A-9

Each local office shall cross-file all such reports under the names of the children, the family, and any person substantiated as being 

an abuser by investigation of the Department of Health and Human Resources, with the use of such person’s name limited to the 

internal use of the department. 

Wisconsin

Establishment

Ann. Stat. § 48.981(3)(c)(5)

The agency shall maintain a record of its actions in connection with each report it receives. 

Purpose

Ann. Stat. § 48.981(3)(c)(8)

The information in the reports shall be used by the Department of Children and Families to monitor services provided by county 

departments or licensed child welfare agencies under contract with county departments or the department. 

The department shall use nonidentifying information to maintain statewide statistics on child abuse and neglect and on unborn child 

abuse, and for planning and policy development purposes. 

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Contents

Ann. Stat. § 48.981(c)(3)(5)

The records shall include a description of the services provided to the child and to the parents, guardian, or legal custodian of the 

child. 

Maintenance

Ann. Stat. § 48.981(3)(c)(5)

The agency shall update the record every 6 months until the case is closed. 

Wyoming

Establishment

Ann. Stat. § 14-3-213

The State agency shall establish and maintain within the statewide child protection center a central registry of child protection cases. 

Purpose

Ann. Stat. § 14-3-213

Through the recording of reports, the State agency’s recordkeeping system shall be operated to enable the State agency to:

• Immediately identify and locate prior reports to assist in the diagnosis of suspicious circumstances and the assessment of the

needs of the child

• Monitor the status of all pending child protection cases

• Evaluate the effectiveness of existing laws and programs through the development and analysis of statistical and other

information

Contents

Ann. Stat. § 14-3-213

All reports of abuse or neglect contained in the central registry shall be classified as either ‘under investigation’ or ‘substantiated.’ 

Unsubstantiated reports shall not be contained in the central registry.

Any person named as a perpetrator in a substantiated report shall have a right to have included in the record his or her statement 

concerning the incident. 

Maintenance

Ann. Stat. § 14-3-213

Within 6 months, any report classified ‘under investigation’ shall be reclassified as ‘substantiated’ or expunged, unless there is an 

open criminal investigation or prosecution. 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

Administration for Children and Families 

Administration on Children, Youth and Families 

Children’s Bureau