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Child Protection Program

The Attorney General's Child Protection Program administers the Child Abuse Central Index, which was created by the Legislature in 1965 as a tool for state and local agencies to help protect the health and safety of California's children.

Each year, approximately 38,000 child abuse investigations are reported to the Child Abuse Central Index. These reports pertain to investigations of alleged physical abuse, sexual abuse, mental/emotional abuse, and/or severe neglect of a child. The reports are submitted by police, sheriff's, county welfare and probation departments.

To aid law enforcement investigations and prosecutions, the Child Protection Program makes information from the Child Abuse Central Index available, including notices of new child abuse investigation reports involving the same reported suspects and/or victims. Information also is provided to designated social welfare agencies to help screen applicants for licensing or employment in child care facilities and foster homes, and to aid in background checks for other possible child placements, and adoptions. Dissemination of Index information is restricted and controlled by the Penal Code.

Information on file in the Child Abuse Central Index include:
  • Names and personal descriptors of the suspects and victims listed on reports;
  • Reporting agency that investigated the incident;
  • The name and/or number assigned to the case by the investigating agency;
  • Type(s) of abuse investigated; and
  • The findings of the investigation for the incident, which is either substantiated or inconclusive.
It is important to note that the effectiveness of the index is only as good as the quality of the information reported. Each reporting agency is required by law to forward to DOJ a summary of every child abuse incident it investigates, unless the incident is determined to be unfounded or general neglect. Each reporting agency is responsible for the accuracy, completeness and retention of reports submitted.

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