Establishment and Maintenance of Central Registries for Child Abuse or Neglect Reports - Maryland

Establishment

Citation: Family Law § 5-714

The Social Services Administration may maintain a centralized confidential database of cases reported under the reporting laws.

Purpose

Citation: Family Law § 5-714

The information in the centralized confidential database shall be accessible only to the following:

• The protective services staff of the administration
• The protective services staff of local departments who are investigating a report of suspected abuse or neglect
• An individual or entity specifically authorized by law to access the information

Unless an individual has been identified as responsible for abuse or neglect in the centralized confidential database, information in the centralized confidential database may not be provided in response to any request for background information for employment or voluntary service.

Contents

Citation: Family Law § 5-714

Each local department shall enter and have access to information in the centralized confidential database related to reports, investigations, and assessments of suspected abuse or neglect.

The State Department of Social Services or a local department may identify an individual as responsible for abuse or neglect in the centralized confidential database only if either of the following apply:

• The individual has been found guilty of any criminal charge arising out of the alleged abuse or neglect.
• The individual has been found responsible for indicated abuse or neglect and has unsuccessfully appealed the finding in accordance with the procedures established under § 5-706.1 or failed to exercise the individual's appeal rights within the timeframes specified in law.

Maintenance

Citation: Family Law § 5-714

The centralized confidential database may not contain any information that is required to be expunged under § 5-707 of this subtitle.