Child Abuse Investigation

buse investigation is the process of investigating the5. Administrative closure. Information received after a
abuse. It means getting background information on thecase was assigned for investigation reveals that
abuser getting proof of the abuse with pictures, audio,continued Child Protective Services intervention is
video, and talking to others that may know somethingunwarranted.
about the abuse. The Texas department of family andThe private detective must also determine whether
protective services outlines key information about childthere is a reasonable likelihood that a child will be
abuse.abused or neglected in the foreseeable future. There
Child Protective detectives investigate reports of childare two alternatives.
abuse or neglect in order to determine whether any1. The worker concludes that the children are not at
child in the referred family has been abused orrisk if
neglected. In addition, caseworkers assess critical(a) no significant risk factors have been identified, and
areas of individual and family functioning to determineabuse or neglect has not been found to have
whether any child in the referred family is at risk ofoccurred in the current investigation; or
abuse or neglect; and initiate protective services for(b) the family appears willing and able, through use of
children who need protection.family and community resources, to deal with risk
To determine whether any child in the family has beenfactors in their lives in such a manner as to ensure the
abused or neglected and is still at risk of abuse orsafety of the child(ren) for the foreseeable future. If
neglect, the investigative worker may interview familythe worker concludes that the children are not at risk,
members and appropriate collateral sources. At thethen the case may be closed.
end of the investigation, staff must assign a disposition2. The worker concludes that the children are at risk of
to each allegation identified for the investigation.abuse or neglect if:
Dispositions include the following:(a) the worker has identified significant risk factors, and
1. Reason-to-believe. Based on a preponderance of(b) the family appears unable or unwilling to utilize
the evidence, staff conclude that abuse or neglect hasfamily and community resources to deal with the risk
occurred.factors in a manner that will ensure the safety of the
2. Ruled-out. Staff determines, based on availablechild(ren) for the foreseeable future.
information, that it is reasonable to conclude that theIf the background investigation concludes that the
abuse or neglect has not occurred.children are at risk of abuse or neglect, then the
3. Unable To Complete. An "unable to complete"worker may recommend:
investigation is one that cannot be concluded and* services to address the problem,
assigned another disposition because the family could* open the case for family based safety services or
not be located to begin the investigation, or the family* file a petition to initiate civil court action to protect the
was contacted but subsequently moved and could notvictim.
be located to complete the investigation or the familyActions could include removal of the children from the
refused to cooperate with the investigation. CPS policyhome and possibly termination of parental rights.
outlines several required actions the caseworkerPrivate investigators often play a keep roll in the
needs to complete with the "Unable To Complete"collection of evidence. Assigning the case to the
disposition.appropriate private detective agency could be the
4. Unable-to-determine. Staff concludes that none ofdifference in developing the information needed to
the dispositions specified in [1 through 3 above] isuncover the facts needed to prove the case is indeed
appropriate.a criminal investigation.