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

Date: January 2024

Establishment

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 210.145

The Division of Family Services shall establish and maintain an information system that is always operating and capable of receiving and maintaining reports.

Purpose

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 210.145

The information system shall have the ability to receive reports over a single, statewide toll-free number.

Contents

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 210.145

The information system shall contain the following:

  • The results of all investigations, family assessments, and services
  • The determination made by the division as a result of the investigation
  • Identifying information about the subjects of the report and those responsible for the care of the child
  • Other relevant dispositional information

Maintenance

Citation: Ann. Stat. §§ 210.145; 210.152

The information system shall be updated within 45 days of the oral report, at regular intervals during the investigation, and at the completion of an investigation. If the investigation is not completed within 45 days, the information system shall be updated at regular intervals and upon the completion of the investigation, which shall be completed no later than 90 days after receipt of a report of abuse or neglect, 120 days after receipt of a report of abuse or neglect involving sexual abuse, or until the division's investigation is complete in cases involving a child fatality or near-fatality. The information in the information system shall be updated to reflect any subsequent findings, including any changes to the findings based on an administrative or judicial hearing on the matter.

For investigation reports in the central registry, identifying information shall be retained by the division. For investigation reports made by a mandated reporter in which insufficient evidence of abuse or neglect is found, identifying information shall be retained for 10 years from the conclusion of the investigation. For all other investigation reports in which there is insufficient evidence, identifying information shall be retained for 5 years.

For reports in which a family assessment and services approach was used, identifying information shall be retained by the division. For reports in which the division was unable to locate the child, identifying information shall be retained for 18 years from the date of the report. 

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