PCANY Supports Legislation to Allow CPS Access to Criminal History Information

Child Protective Services' (CPS) initial task is to assess the safety of and risk to children when an investigation commences in response to a report of suspected child abuse or maltreatment. A reasonable and valid assessment depends on full and reliable information about the adults living with the child or otherwise named as subjects of the report.

Currently CPS investigators do not have access to criminal record information databases that would enable them to immediately determine if a person named in the report has a violent criminal history or previously committed crimes against children.

Prevent Child Abuse New York urges passage of A.4425-A (Mayerson) / S. 2978-A (Robach).

This legislation, authorizing CPS access to relevant criminal history information, will help to better safeguard the well being of our state's children. In addition, this information can help CPS professionals better prepare to respond to allegations of abuse or neglect through more complete understanding of the risk and safety measures needed for them to conduct their investigations.

We note that the legislation stipulates that a case of child abuse or maltreatment shall not be indicated solely on the basis of the existence of a criminal record.

Summary, status, text, sponsor's memo can be found through a Bill No. search at http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/menugetf.cgi