If you're an Erie County resident and have been referred to Pennsylvania's ChildLine system for suspected child abuse, your next steps are critical. An adverse outcome from a child abuse investigation and placement on the ChildLine registry can have far-reaching and long-lasting implications, including exclusion from some employment opportunities, limitations on volunteer activities, potential adjustments to child custody arrangements, and the threat of criminal prosecution. You need to take decisive action to protect yourself and strategically respond to the allegations of abuse or neglect.
A child abuse accusation is serious and requires that you take immediate steps to protect yourself, your rights, your reputation, and your family. You do not have to fight a child abuse or neglect accusation alone. The LLF Law Firm is here to help you.
From protecting your rights during the initial investigation to developing strategies to minimize the long-term implications of a ChildLine referral, the LLF Law Firm is on your side. We will help you protect yourself and your loved ones. Call us at 888-535-3686 or submit a confidential online consultation form for legal help in Erie County.
The LLF Law Firm has years of experience helping the citizens of Erie County respond to and defend against ChildLine referrals and investigations. With the LLF Law Firm, you will have a team on your side to help you and protect your rights throughout the ChildLine referral and investigation process.
Pennsylvania's ChildLine System
ChildLine is a 24-hour telephone hotline established and operated by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. The goal of the ChildLine system is to prevent child abuse by providing an anonymous method for individuals to report child abuse or neglect. After ChildLine receives a credible report of child abuse, an investigation begins. When a ChildLine investigation ends with the decision that child abuse or neglect was “indicated” or “founded,” the accused individual is placed on the ChildLine registry. Having your name added to the registry is sometimes called getting “ChildLined.”
The general public cannot access the ChildLine registry; however, some employers have access to the registry and may make hiring and firing decisions based on the list.
The inclusion of your name on the ChildLine registry has far-reaching and adverse consequences, with impacts ranging from employment and volunteer activities to child custody arrangements. Additionally, once an individual's name is added to the ChildLine registry, it is extremely difficult to have it removed. Importantly, many individuals learn about the ChildLine registry only after their name is added.
ChildLine Referrals and Investigations
After ChildLine receives a report of child abuse or neglect, the accusation is referred to the appropriate county's Child, Youth, and Family Services department within 24 hours. Each county in Pennsylvania has a Child, Youth, and Family Service department and an internal protocol for handling referrals. Erie County staff receive and review the ChildLine referral to determine whether the behavior constitutes child abuse. If county staff conclude that the report involves child abuse, they begin an investigation. Erie County has 60 days to complete its investigation. During an investigation, the investigators may interview anyone who may know about the incident, including the accused and their friends, family members, employers, co-workers, and neighbors.
Often, law enforcement is contacted about a ChildLine report. It is common for multi-agency teams, consisting of law enforcement and social service organizations, to work together to investigate child abuse cases.
ChildLine staff may contact the relevant state licensing board if the accused holds a professional license, such as a law or medical license, issued by the state. Then, the professional board may determine if an action should be taken against the accused's professional license.
ChildLine Referrals in Erie County
In Erie County, the Office of Children and Youth, part of the Department of Human Services, receives ChildLine referrals of abuse and neglect that occurred within Erie County and referrals involving children who live in Erie County. Additionally, Erie County's Office of Children and Youth operates its own hotline to collect reports of child abuse and neglect.
In 2022, there were 1,176 total reports of suspected child abuse made to the Erie County Department of Human Services. 112 of these reports were found to be substantiated.
Each year, many people are falsely accused of child abuse in Pennsylvania. Even good faith efforts to identify and dismiss false accusations have failed to identify and dismiss all false reports of child abuse or neglect.
Making an anonymous report to ChildLine is easy, which may account for the difference between the high volume of calls received and the lower number of substantiated reports of child neglect and abuse. Sometimes, false accusations arise during emotionally charged and desperate family situations such as divorce and custody battles. Parents might make false reports of abuse and neglect against a current or former spouse, partner, or co-parent to attempt to obtain more favorable outcomes. Anyone can make a ChildLine report, including false ChildLine reports.
Making a ChildLine Report
Pennsylvania and Erie County encourage anyone who reasonably suspects that a child is the victim of abuse or neglect to make a report, in good faith, to ChildLine. That said, Pennsylvania requires that some people in close contact with children report suspected child abuse and neglect to ChildLine.
Mandatory Reporters
Mandated (or mandatory) reporters are individuals who have close contact with children and are required by law to report suspected child abuse and neglect. In Pennsylvania, mandated reporters include healthcare workers, teachers, counselors, daycare workers, police officers, social workers, and religious officials. These reporters make their ChildLine reports by phone or through an online submission system. When a mandated reporter makes a ChildLine report, they must leave their name and contact information; however, their identities are kept confidential by the government and law enforcement. Additionally, Pennsylvania law protects mandated reporters from legal liability for making a ChildLine report unless they intentionally file false reports with malicious purpose. In Pennsylvania, there is a general presumption that reports of child abuse and neglect are made in good faith.
Permissive Reporters
Permissive reporters are individuals who are not required to report suspected child abuse or neglect but choose to make a report to the ChildLine system. Permissive reporters may make anonymous ChildLine reports.
ChildLine reports are sometimes filed in bad faith. Even well-intended reporters can make mistakes. Unsubstantiated accusations of child abuse or neglect can wreak havoc in your life. The team of knowledgeable attorneys at the LLF Law Firm can help you vigorously defend yourself and protect your rights after a ChildLine report of abuse is made against you in Erie County.
Consequences of a ChildLine Referral and Investigation
For an individual accused of child abuse or neglect, the consequences of a ChildLine investigation can be devastating to both their personal and professional lives. After their investigation, ChildLine investigators will categorize the child abuse accusation as “unfounded,” “indicated,” or “founded.” The decision on how to categorize the ChildLine report determines the severity of the outcome of the investigation:
- Unfounded: The report is deemed “unfounded” if the investigators find no evidence of child abuse. The accused's name will not be added to the ChildLine registry.
- Indicated: The report is classified as “indicated” if the investigators conclude that there is substantial evidence of child abuse and the accused's name is added to the ChildLine registry.
- Founded: The report is determined to be “founded” if investigators determine the allegations of abuse or neglect are legitimate. A report is often categorized as founded because there was a hearing and a judicial determination concluded that abuse or neglect did occur. When a report is determined to be founded, the accused's name is added to the Childline registry.
A ChildLine investigation is not a criminal investigation; however, criminal investigations led by law enforcement officers may occur in conjunction with or after a ChildLine investigation. If the ChildLine investigation concludes that a report of child abuse or neglect was indicated or founded, a criminal investigation and criminal charges may follow. Importantly, even if the ChildLine investigation concludes that a report was unfounded, law enforcement agencies may still file criminal charges.
The inclusion of your name on the ChildLine registry can be devastating for your personal and professional life, and the long-term consequences of a ChildLine referral and investigation are not always immediately clear. When you work with the LLF Law Firm Team throughout the process, you have a partner and counsel to prepare for each step of the referral and investigatory process, to ensure your rights are defended, and to protect you, your life, your reputation, and your loved ones during such a difficult period.
The LLF Law Firm's experienced Criminal Defense Team can collaborate with you to review your case, develop a responsive strategy to protect your rights during an investigation and help you and your loved ones understand the process and its implications.
Your Rights During a ChildLine Investigation
Unfortunately, it is possible that an individual's name can be added to the ChildLine registry without due process. There are incidents of investigators failing to notify the accused of the referral or to provide any opportunity to respond to the report. You do have rights when a ChildLine report is made against you, and the LLF Law Firm can help you protect you and your rights.
Any individual subjected to a ChildLine investigation must be notified that:
- A report of child abuse or neglect was made against them.
- They have the right to an attorney and to have their attorney present during any or all interviews or meetings with ChildLine investigators or other county officials or investigators.
- They have the right to seek an amendment or expungement of the county's decision.
During a ChildLine investigation, the LLF Firm Team can help defend you and these crucial rights.
After a ChildLine investigation, Erie County must notify the target of the investigation of:
- The results of the ChildLine investigation and the status of the child abuse report
- The effect the report may have on future job and career opportunities
- The fact that their name, a description of the abuse, and the result of the investigation will be entered into the ChildLine database
- Their right to request to amend or expunge the report and have their name removed from the ChildLine registry
- Their right to file an appeal within nine days
- Their right to a hearing on the merits on appeal, at which time Erie County must prove its case by substantial evidence.
If you're referred to ChildLine for a report of child abuse or neglect, the stakes for you and your loved ones are incredibly high. Make sure you're prepared to challenge the allegations and protect your rights with the LLF Law Firm at your side.
The LLF Law Firm Can Help You if You've Been Referred to ChildLine in Erie County
If you're facing a ChildLine referral and navigating the ChildLine system in Erie County, you need the LLF Law Firm and our experienced team on your side. ChildLine investigations can be emotionally exhausting and intrusive, with significant legal and non-legal consequences. Together, we can protect your rights, your future, and your loved ones.
Even if you're cleared of all charges, a ChildLine investigation is a difficult and destructive process. Being accused of child abuse can destroy your relationships, reputation, and career. There is no need for you to face this burden alone.
For years, the LLF Law Firm has successfully represented Erie County residents facing ChildLine referrals, investigations, and allegations of abuse and neglect. The knowledgeable Criminal Defense Team can help you protect your rights and develop strategies to support your short- and long-term interests.
Now, it's time for you to take action to protect yourself and your rights. Contact the LLF Law Firm at 888-535-3686 or submit a confidential online consultation form to get the legal representation you need and deserve.
