N.J. Admin. Code § 3A:10-7.8

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 11, June 3, 2024

Section 3A:10-7.8 - Other notification at conclusion of investigation

(a) The child protective investigator shall advise the following people whether further services shall be offered or provided to an alleged child victim or to his or her family, upon completion of the investigation:

1. The caregiver with physical custody at the time of the incident;

2. The parent with whom the alleged child victim normally resides; and

3. The parent to whom the alleged child victim will be returned, if the alleged child victim was in an institution at the time of the incident.

(b) The child protective investigator shall advise each alleged child victim of the completion of the investigation in a manner determined to be consistent with, and appropriate to, the alleged child victim's age, condition, and ability to understand the basis for the Department's involvement; the alleged child victim's ability to cope with the information; and the alleged child victim's ability to participate in the development, discussion, or implementation of the case plan pursuant to NJ.S.A. 9:6-8.10a(c).

(c) The child protective investigator may, and upon written request shall, advise the reporter of the disposition of the investigation, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.10a(b)(18).

(d) The child protective investigator shall forward information within 10 days from the date upon which the child protective investigator makes a substantiated finding, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.10a(e), to the police in the jurisdiction where:

1. The child victim resides;

2. The incident of abuse or neglect occurred; and

3. The child victim may be at risk of future harm.

(e) The written information regarding the report of abuse or neglect shall include:

1. The name and age of each child victim and his or her address;

2. The name and age of each of the child victim's siblings, if any, obtained by the child protective investigator during his or her investigation;

3. The name of each perpetrator, his or her address, and his or her relationship to each child victim;

4. The name and address of the institution, if the incident occurred in an institution;

5. The date the State Central Registry created the report;

6. The date the child protective investigator completed the investigation;

7. Whether the substantiated finding was abuse, neglect, or a combination thereof;

8. A summary of the circumstances of the incident, including a description of the child victim's injuries, if any, and a statement about the severity of the incident;

9. A statement as to whether a child protective investigator reported the incident to the county prosecutor; and

10. A statement as to whether a child protective investigator investigated a prior allegation of abuse or neglect regarding the alleged child victim.

(f) The child protective investigator shall advise the police that the information provided must be kept confidential pursuant to N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.10a(e), in the notification, whereby the police shall be prohibited from sharing the information with anyone except as authorized under the provisions of N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.10a.

(g) The child protective investigator shall advise the police, in writing, to destroy the information regarding the substantiated report, if a substantiated finding is later reversed by an appeal, a court order, or an internal Departmental decision, and a Department representative had notified the police of the substantiated report in accordance with (d) and (e) above.

(h) The child protective investigator may advise others, including the non-custodial parent, of the finding only as permitted by N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.10a.

N.J. Admin. Code § 3A:10-7.8

Administrative Change, 49 N.J.R. 98a.

Amended by 51 N.J.R. 825(b), effective 6/3/2019