Hiring an Attorney for Your CACI Grievance Hearing Can Help You Have Your Name Removed From The Central Index
Have you been accused of child abuse or neglect? A child abuse accusation can mean devastating, long-term consequences. If the allegations against you are substantiated, your name could end up on the Child Abuse Central Index, and you will need an experienced attorney to help you request a CACI grievance hearing and guide you through this difficult process.
What is CACI?
The Attorney General administers the Child Abuse Central Index (CACI), which was created by the Legislature in 1965 as a tool for state and local agencies to help protect the health and safety of California’s children.1
Each year, child abuse investigations are reported to the CACI. These reports pertain to investigations of alleged physical abuse, sexual abuse, mental/emotional abuse, and/or severe neglect of a child. The reports are submitted by county welfare and probation departments.2
The information in the Index is available to aid law enforcement investigations, prosecutions, and to provide notification of new child abuse investigation reports involving the same suspects and/or victims.3
Information also is provided to designated social welfare agencies to help screen applicants for licensing or employment in child care facilities and foster homes, and to aid in background checks for other possible child placements, and adoptions.4
What Information is included on CACI?
Information on file in the Child Abuse Central Index include:
- Names and personal descriptions of suspects and victims;
- The reporting agency that investigated the incident;
- The name and/or number assigned to the case by the investigating agency;
- Type(s) of abuse investigated; and
- The findings of the investigation if the allegations are substantiated.5
Generally, information on the index is not publicly available. However, a routine background check may expose you to your employer or a potential employer, particularly if you work with or wish to work with children.
What are Your Rights if You are Subject to Identification on CACI?
If you are placed on CACI, you have 30 days to request a grievance hearing if you wish to attempt to have your name removed from the index. If more than 30 days have passed since the CACI listing, you must qualify for one of the exceptions to this rule.
You will not be granted a grievance hearing during any court proceedings pending against you for the underlying allegations that prompted the index listing. However, that does not extend the 30-day time limit to request the hearing.
You will need an attorney to represent you during the CACI grievance hearing process.
Why Should You Hire Wallin & Klarich to Represent You in a CACI Grievance Hearing?
A CACI grievance hearing is a complicated matter. If you lose your hearing, you risk your name being included on a list of identified suspects of child abuse or neglect for 10 years. Additionally, you cannot appeal a decision in a grievance hearing to a higher court.
Your best chance to win your grievance hearing and keep your name off the list is to retain an experienced attorney familiar with CACI proceedings.
Prior to a grievance hearing, our attorneys at Wallin & Klarich will be able to:
- Review the county’s witnesses and evidence against you;
- Locate witnesses and gather evidence on your behalf; and
- Develop an argument to convince the county that it should withdraw or modify its findings.
The hearing officer will submit his or her report and recommendations to the County Director at the completion of the grievance hearing. Within 10 working days, The County Director will issue a final decision adopting, rejecting, or modifying the recommended decision.
Contact Wallin & Klarich Today for Assistance with Your CACI Grievance Hearing
If you or a family member is facing being listed on the Child Abuse Central Index, there are options available for you to avoid this humiliating stigma. You need to speak to one of our experienced attorneys at Wallin & Klarich today to learn how we can protect your rights. The attorneys at Wallin & Klarich have over 40 years of experience defending parents and family members against false claims of abuse and neglect during a CACI grievance hearing.
With offices in Los Angeles, Sherman Oaks, Torrance, Tustin, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, West Covina and Victorville, we can help you protect your good reputation. You don’t have to go through this alone.
Call us today at (877) 4-NO-JAIL or (877) 466-5245 for a free telephone consultation. We will get through this together.
1. [California Department of Justice: Child Abuse Central Index; http://oag.ca.gov/childabuse]↩
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