Opinion ID: 4536777
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: An allegation shall be “established” if the

Text: preponderance of the evidence indicates that a child is 22 an “abused or neglected child” as defined in N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.21, but the act or acts committed or omitted do not warrant a finding of “substantiated” as defined in (c)1 above. 3. An allegation shall be “not established” if there is not a preponderance of the evidence that a child is an abused or neglected child as defined in N.J.S.A. 9:6- 8.21, but evidence indicates that the child was harmed or was placed at risk of harm. 4. An allegation shall be “unfounded” if there is not a preponderance of the evidence indicating that a child is an abused or neglected child as defined in N.J.S.A. 9:6- 8.21, and the evidence indicates that a child was not harmed or placed at risk of harm. [N.J.A.C. 3A:10-7.3(c).] That differentiation creates two general classes of findings, which break down on the basis of whether a finding that a child is an “abused or neglected child,” under the statutory definition of that term,5 can be made based on a 5 The definition of an abused or neglected child in pertinent part includes a child . . . whose parent or guardian . . . (1) inflicts or allows to be inflicted upon such child physical injury by other than accidental means which causes or creates a substantial risk of death, or serious or protracted disfigurement . . . ; (2) creates or allows to be created a substantial or ongoing risk of physical injury to such child by other than accidental means . . . (4) or a child whose physical, mental, or emotional condition has been impaired or is in imminent danger of becoming impaired as the result of the failure of his parent or 23 preponderance of the evidence. That basic schematic design is captured in the regulation itself: (d) A finding of either established or substantiated shall constitute a determination by the Department that a child is an abused or neglected child pursuant to N.J.S.A. 9:6–8.21. A finding of either not established or unfounded shall constitute a determination by the Department that a child is not an abused or neglected child pursuant to N.J.S.A. 9:6–8.21. [N.J.A.C. 3A:10-7.3(d).] The regulations further provide that a finding that a report, complaint, or allegation of an incident of child abuse or neglect is “unfounded” is subject to expunction, as dictated by N.J.SA. 9:6-8.40a(a). See N.J.A.C. 3A:10-7.7(b). The Department has defined what “unfounded” means in the context of an investigation and has established a process for determining when such report, complaint, or allegation is deemed “unfounded,” again as it was required to do under N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.40a(b). The administrative regulations codified at N.J.A.C. 3A:10-8.1 to -8.4 lay out the standards and procedure for expunction guardian, . . . by unreasonably inflicting or allowing to be inflicted harm, or substantial risk thereof, including the infliction of excessive corporal punishment; or by any other acts of a similarly serious nature requiring the aid of the court. [N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.21(c).] 24 of records. Notably, a record containing a “substantiated,” “established,” or “not established” finding is required to be retained, as specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:10-8.1(b). Those are the basic provisions of the statutory and administrative scheme in which the present appeal arises.