Cross-Reporting Among Agencies That Respond to Child Abuse and Neglect - Arkansas

Cross-Reporting Between Child Protective Services and Law Enforcement

Citation: Ann. Code §§ 12-18-103; 12-18-504; 12-18-503

The term 'central intake,' otherwise referred to as the 'child abuse hotline' (hotline), means a unit that shall be established by the Department of Human Services for the purpose of receiving and recording notification made pursuant to this chapter.

The term 'department' means the Department of Human Services and the Division of Arkansas State Police.

The department immediately shall notify local law enforcement of all reports of severe maltreatment.

Notification of a report of child maltreatment shall be provided within 5 business days to the prosecuting attorney on an allegation of severe maltreatment, unless the prosecuting attorney has given written notice to the department that the department does not need to provide notification of the initial child maltreatment report to the prosecuting attorney's office.

The department and the State police shall notify the responsible multidisciplinary team of any report of child maltreatment within 5 business days.

Other Reporting Requirements

Citation: Ann. Code §§ 12-18-506; 12-18-507; 12-18-508

If the hotline receives a report naming as an alleged offender a person who is engaged in child-related activities or employment, works with the elderly, an individual with a disability, or an individual with a mental illness, or is a juvenile, and the department has determined that children, the elderly, or individuals with a disability or mental illness under the care of the alleged offender appear to be at risk of maltreatment by the alleged offender, the department may notify the following of the report:

• The alleged offender's employer
• The school superintendent, principal, or a person in an equivalent position where the alleged offender is employed
• The person in charge of a paid or volunteer activity
• The appropriate licensing or registering authority to the extent necessary to carry out its official responsibilities

If the hotline receives a report naming as an alleged offender a juvenile who is in a setting or circumstances where other children may be at risk, the department may notify the entity or person in charge about the report.

If the hotline receives a report that a client or a resident of a State-licensed facility has been subjected to child maltreatment while at the facility, the department shall immediately notify the facility director and the facility's licensing authority of the report of suspected child maltreatment.

If the hotline receives a report that a client or a resident of a facility operated by the department of or under contract with the department has been subjected to child maltreatment while at the facility, the department shall immediately notify the appropriate division director and the facility director of the receipt of initial report of suspected child maltreatment.

If the hotline receives a report that a child in the custody of the department has been subjected to child maltreatment while in the department's custody, the department shall immediately notify the appropriate division director of the receipt of an initial report of suspected child maltreatment.

The department shall immediately notify the applicable family advocacy program or other person or entity designated by the military authority for the military installation associated with an active duty service member under the following circumstances:

• When the hotline accepts a report involving as an alleged victim a child of an active duty service member
• When the hotline accepts a report involving as an alleged offender a person who is an active duty service member
• When the hotline accepts a report alleging child maltreatment that occurred during an activity conducted or sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Defense or occurred at a facility operated by the Department of Defense

Facilities covered include, without limitation, all military installations and recruiting locations as well as schools, day cares, and youth programs operated by the Department of Defense and schools, day cares, and youth programs that are allowed to operate on military installations, recruiting locations, or other military facilities.