Interim Report to the Congress on the Feasibility of a National Child Abuse Registry

Interim Report to the Congress on
the Feasibility of a National Child Abuse Registry

May 2009

By:
Laura Radel
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation

Abstract
About 45 states maintain child abuse registries, which are databases that allow child protective services investigators routine access to child abuse history information to inform better current investigations. Most states also use their registries to conduct pre-employment background checks on persons who work with children, such as day care providers. The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (P.L. 109-248) requires that HHS conduct a study to assess the feasibility of establishing a national child abuse and neglect registry and present the results in a Report to Congress. This interim report describes key issues regarding the feasibility of establishing a national child abuse registry and concludes that implementation is not feasible under the statutory limitations of the authorizing legislation. Further feasibility study activities are underway and will be described in a final report when results are available.
This report is available on the Internet at:
http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/09/ChildAbuseRegistryInterimReport/index.shtml

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Contents

Executive Summary

Sections

Background
The Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006
Legislative History of Congressional Efforts to Establish a National Child Abuse Registry
Activities Comprising This Initial Feasibility Assessment
Characteristics of State Child Abuse Registries
Purpose and Utility of a National Child Abuse Registry
Intended Uses of a National Child Abuse Registry
Quantifying the Potential for Child Safety Improvements
Acquisition and Management of Data
Obtaining Data for a National Registry
Provision of Data by State, Local and Tribal Agencies
Managing Data from Many Sources
Alternative Structures for a National, Electronic Child Abuse Registry
Standardization and Comparability of Registry Information
Determining Which Cases Should be Included in a National Child Abuse Registry
Identifying Perpetrators Accurately
Characterizing Maltreatment
Maintaining a Registry and Responding to Inquiries
Keeping Registry Data Secure
Restricting Access to a National Child Abuse Registry to Authorized Users
Responding Promptly to Queries
Determining a Registry’s Relationship to Other Data Collection Efforts
Complying with the Privacy Act
Issues Regarding Participation of Indian Tribes in a National Child Abuse Registry
Due Process Considerations
Lessons from Data Systems Used for Criminal Background Checks
Compiling and Referencing Criminal History Records
Benefits and Costs of a National Child Abuse Registry
Potential Benefits
Anticipated Costs
Federal Costs
Costs to Agencies Submitting Data to and Making Inquiries of a National Registry
Costs to Individuals Identified (Truly or Falsely) as Child Maltreatment Perpetrators
Nonfinancial Costs of a National Child Abuse Registry
Financing Startup and Ongoing Operations
Conclusions
Next Steps
References

Appendices

Section 633 of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act (P.L. 109-248, 42 U.S.C. 16990)
Characteristics of State Central Child Abuse Registries
Data Elements Currently Collected in the Child File of the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System
Endnotes

To read this report, please go to:
http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/09/ChildAbuseRegistryInterimReport/index.shtml