Help! My Name Is On The Child Abuse Central Index
The Child Abuse Central Index, or CACI, is a database managed by the Department of Justice containing reports of investigations of alleged physical abuse, sexual abuse, mental or emotional abuse, or severe neglect of a child. The Attorney General receives this data from county welfare and probation departments who send in case information, along with the name and description of the accused person, for every allegation of child-related abuse. The county can forward you to CACI even if you plead to a lesser crime; you were charged and found innocent; or even where the prosecution never brought charges at all.
Being on CACI carries serious consequences. It may show up in extensive background checks, especially for jobs involving minors, and it can affect your attempts to adopt children. Of course there is also the social stigma associated with being named a “child abuser.” If you find yourself on CACI, you should retain an experienced CACI attorney; this is a delicate issue requiring specialized skill. The Child Abuse Index Attorney team at Wallin & Klarich has multiple success stories of CACI victories.
Child Abuse Central Index – How to Remove Your Name
First, you need to know if you are on that list. Within five business days of placing you on CACI, the county must provide you a written notice of their actions. You should call an attorney as soon as you get this notice. CACI and its hearing process has a series of deadlines that, if missed, will hurt your efforts to clear your name. If you did not receive a notice, but suspect you might be on the list you can do a self-inquiry through the mail, details can be read here. Included with this notice is information on your right to a grievance hearing. The grievance hearing is like a trial, where witnesses will be called and all evidence can be presented in an attempt to clear your name.
What Happens At The CACI Grievance Hearing?
Once a hearing is requested, there is a strict timeline for the hearing process. You will be against agency representatives who regularly conduct these hearings and know how it works. After the hearing, the hearing officer sends their recommendation to the County Director who issues a final decision. If you lose, your name will be on CACI for 10 years. All this can sound very daunting—and it is. Without an experienced CACI attorney at your side, the hearing will seem like a foreign planet.
Contact An Experienced California Child Abuse Index Defense Attorney
An experienced attorney can help you every step of the way. Our team of experienced Child Abuse Index Attorneys will ensure you meet the procedural requirements that could bar you from your hearing. Then, your Wallin & Klarich attorney will review all of the evidence and together you can come up with a strong defense. Your Wallin & Klarich attorney will find documents to present and witnesses to testify on your behalf. Finally, your Wallin & Klarich attorney will make a closing argument as to the reasons you should be removed from CACI.
Navigating a CACI hearing without legal help is difficult and can put you and your loved ones under extreme amounts of stress. The Child Abuse Index Attorney team at Wallin & Klarich is here to help you. With many years of experience, we can handle the entire process and help your case. We have offices in San Bernardino, Ventura, Riverside, Los Angeles, San Diego and Orange County. Call us today at 888-749-0034 or fill out our intake form for immediate assistance. We will get through this together.
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