Office of the Attorney General, Department of Justice   Child Protection Logo
OFFICE OF THE AG PROGRAMS & SERVICES NEWS & ALERTS PUBLICATIONS CONTACT US SEARCH
REGISTERING WITH US EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES LINKS TO STATE SITES


 
Child Protection Program
FAQs
Statutes/Regulations
Forms
Contact Us

Frequently Asked Questions

Individuals (Private Citizens) | Child Abuse Investigating/Reporting Agency | Licensing


INDIVIDUALS (Private Citizens)

  1. Is DOJ making a decision about whether I get a license, approved for adoption or TrustLine Registry?
  2. How do I find out if I have a Child Abuse report on file?
  3. I was listed only as a victim of child abuse. Now that I am 18, can my name be removed from the Index?
  4. Recently, I went to court on a child abuse case and was found innocent due to an unsubstantiated report, why is my name still on the CACI?
  5. Five years ago, a child abuse report listed, as a suspect, my younger brother who at the time resided with me, will his past prevent me from obtaining a adoption/foster care license?
  6. I have an uncle from Turkey residing with me and he does not have a California Identification card or Social Security number, but he does have a green card, will he need a child abuse central index clearance and/or fingerprints before I can obtain my foster care license?
  7. If, I am a school teacher, cafeteria worker, janitor or a bus driver is a child abuse central index name clearance required for my employment?

CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATING/REPORTING AGENCY

  1. How can an authorized investigating agency request information from CACI?
  2. What is the Confirmation Process?

LICENSING

  1. What is the Licensing/Adoption/TrustLine Process?

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

INDIVIDUALS (Private Citizens)

  1. Is DOJ making a decision about whether I get a license, approved for adoption or TrustLine Registry?

    DOJ serves as a pointer system referring licensing agencies to the original investigating agency for copies of the reports. The licensing agency conducting the background check is required to obtain the investigative report and make their own independent assessment of that individual (P.C. § 11170(6)(A)).

    Return to top of page

  2. How do I find out if I have a Child Abuse report on file?
    {This is known as a Citizen Inquiry. It allows all individuals to know if his/her name appears on the Child Abuse Central Index [P.C. § 11170.(e)]}

    Send a brief letter asking if your name is on the Child Abuse Central Index (CACI), list all the names you have used include dates of birth, social security number, driver's license number, current address, and have the signature notarized and send to DOJ. If your name matches with a name in CACI you will be notified of the confirmation within 60 days. If there is no record of your name in CACI, you will receive a response within 10 days. Send the letter to the address listed in Question #3.

    If an individual is listed as a suspect on the CACI, that person's name can be removed upon direction by the reporting agency.

    Return to top of page

  3. I was listed only as a victim of child abuse. Now that I am 18, can my name be removed from the Index?

    Yes, you should send a notarized letter including your name, address, social security number, and date of birth to DOJ requesting that your name be removed. [P.C. § 11170(f)]
    Send correspondence to:
    California Department of Justice
    Bureau of Criminal Information and Analysis
    Child Protection Program
    P. O. Box 903387
    Sacramento, CA 94203-3870

    Return to top of page

  4. Recently, I went to court on a child abuse case and was found innocent due to an unsubstantiated report, why is my name still on the CACI?

    Because the reporting agency reported it to DOJ as substantiated or inclonclusive and the law states it has to be reported. Efforts to have your name removed should be directed to the reporting agency. The reporting agency must ask DOJ to remove the listing or the court order must direct DOJ to remove the listing.

    Return to top of page

  5. Five years ago, a child abuse report listed, as a suspect, my younger brother who at the time resided with me, will his past prevent me from obtaining a adoption/foster care license?

    Contact the County where the report was filed and/or the reporting agency responsible for your license or Community Care Licensing (California Department of Social Services).

    Return to top of page

  6. I have an uncle from Turkey residing with me and he does not have a California Identification card or Social Security number, but he does have a green card, will he need a child abuse central index clearance and/or fingerprints before I can obtain my foster care license?

    Contact (Department of Social Services) Community Care Licensing regarding no verification of identification status.

    Return to top of page

  7. If, I am a school teacher, cafeteria worker, janitor or a bus driver is a child abuse central index name clearance required for my employment?

    Only if the school has a Department of Social Services licensed child care facility and provides child care assistance will the teacher and staff members be checked.

    Return to top of page


CHILD ABUSE INVESTIGATING/REPORTING AGENCY

  1. How can an authorized investigating agency request information from CACI?

    The way to request the information is to fax in a Facsimile Inquiry for Child Abuse Central Index (BCIA 4084) and a response will be made via fax, telephone, or teletype.

    Authorized agencies may request information from CACI for the following purposes only:

    • Investigations of new child abuse allegations
    • Temporary/Emergency Placement of a child
    • Relative Placement
    • Non-Relative Placement - "Possible Matches" must be confirmed.
    • Long-Term Placement and/or Guardianship (Submit with copies of face sheet of Petition and/or Notice of Hearing) - "Possible Matches" must be confirmed.

    Return to top of page

  2. What is the Confirmation Process?

    This is a process where the Child Protection Program staff requests information on previously submitted child abuse reports from the original investigating agency when an individual is undergoing a background check for the Department of Social Services or county child care licensing, and long-term placement and/or guardianship of a child. Upon return of confirmation, DOJ will serve as a pointer system, referring authorized agencies to the original investigating agency for copies of reports. The authorized agency conducting the background check is required to obtain the investigative report and make their own independent assessment (P.C. § 11170(6) (A)).

    Return to top of page


LICENSING

  1. What is the Licensing/Adoption/TrustLine Process?

    Contact your Licensing/Adoption/TrustLine Registry worker.

    • DOJ is a repository of reports and acts as a tool for investigations and background checks. (P.C. § 11170(a)(2)).

    • All results (No Match & Possible Match) are sent to the authorized licensing agency.

    • The licensing agency conducting the background check is required to obtain the investigative report and make their own independent assessment (P.C. § 11170(6)(A)).

      In order to obtain a name clearance, authorized licensing agencies must use the 198/198A (may be submitted via LiveScan). A BCIA 4066 form is used for Adoption requests only. TrustLine requests are received via Department of Social Services and/or LiveScan.

    Return to top of page


Doug Smith, Chief
Debbie Hesse, Assistant Chief
Bud Wilford, Program Manager

FORM REQUEST ADDRESS:

California Department of Justice
Bureau of Criminal Information and Analysis
Child Protection Program
P. O. Box 903387
Sacramento, CA 94203-3870

(916) 227-3285 OFFICE
(916) 227-3253 FAX

Attorney General Logo OFFICE OF THE AG | PROGRAMS & SERVICES | NEWS & ALERTS | PUBLICATIONS | CONTACT US | SEARCH
REGISTERING WITH US | EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES | LINKS TO STATE SITES
Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | © 2001 DOJ