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Arizona Department of Child Safety
Phone: Child Abuse Hotline 1-888-767-2445
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  • Home
  • About
    • About DCS
    • Administration
      • Mike Faust, DCS Director
    • Engage
    • Field Offices
    • Policy & Procedure
      • DCS Policy & Procedure
      • DCS Rules & Rulemaking
      • DCS Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
      • DCS Non-Discrimination Policy
      • DCS Limited English Proficiency Policy
    • Procurement & Contracts
    • Strategic Plan
    • Community Advisory Committee
    • Volunteer
      • Get Involved
      • Community Partners
      • Community / Volunteer Interest Form
      • FACT Program
      • Giving Tree
    • Contact Us
  • Careers
    • Career Opportunities
      • Child Safety Specialist
      • Child Welfare Investigative Specialist (OCWI)
      • Search All Positions
    • We Are Compassioneers
  • News & Reports
    • News Releases
    • DCS Reports
    • Performance Measures
      • DCS Monthly / Semi-Annual Report
      • Agency Progress
    • Child Fatalities / Near Fatalities
    • Process for Release of Info
    • Settlement - Tinsley v. Faust
  • Parents
    • Parent Guide
    • Parents Rights
    • Parent Advisory Collaborative
  • Foster & Adoption
    • Foster Care
      • Start the Journey! Orientation
      • Licensing Agencies
      • Information Events
      • Kinship Resources
      • Go-to Guide
      • Foster & Kinship FAQ's
    • Adoption
      • Adoption Stories
    • Shared Parenting
    • Children's Heart Gallery
    • Search AdoptUSKids
    • Newsletter
  • Resource
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Request DCS Information
    • Complaint or Disagreement
      • Ombudsman Complaint Form
    • DCS Forms
    • DCS Brochures & Flyers
    • Protective Services Review Team (PSRT)
  • Services
    • Mercy Care DCS Comprehensive Health Plan
      • For Members
      • For Providers
      • News and Updates
      • Contact Us
      • Language and Translation
    • DCS Service Array
    • Prevention
      • Safe Sleep
      • Arizona Families F.I.R.S.T.
      • Healthy Families Arizona
      • Regional Child Abuse Prevention Councils
      • In-Home Services Program
      • Resources for Parents
      • Back-To-School Resources and Tips for Parents
    • Investigations and OCWI
    • Office of Licensing & Regulation (OLR)
    • Young Adult
      • Young Adult Program
      • Young Adult Resources
      • Youth Empowerment Council
      • Transitional Independent (TILP)
      • National Youth in Transition Database
      • CAA Chafee Program Funding for Foster Youth
    • Victims' Rights
  • Report Child Abuse
    • Child Abuse Hotline
    • Mandated Reporter Overview Training
    • Safe Haven Newborn
    • SB1114 - Child Abuse Hotline Required Posting
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  • Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Basic Information

Why must records be reviewed before they are released?

Law enforcement agencies statewide are critical partners in protecting children; they ensure that perpetrators of child abuse or neglect are held accountable for the harm they cause to children.

State law requires that the prosecuting agency be given the opportunity to review DCS records that may be released in order to determine whether the release of the records would cause “specific material harm” to the criminal investigation.

What if I disagree with the determination that records cannot be released?

If any person believes that a prosecuting agency has failed to demonstrate that the release of DCS records would cause a specific material harm to the criminal investigation, that person may file an action in Superior Court and ask the court to review the DCS records and tell the Department which records can be released.

What information is included in a records release?

The DCS case file typically includes: DCS  investigation case notes, including safety and risk assessments regarding the child and correspondence with the family; court documents filed regarding the child, including the family’s case plan and progress reports filed with the court by DCS; and, reports about the child received by treatment and service providers working with the family.

Is there a cost for obtaining DCS records?

Yes. Contact us for details.

How can I obtain additional records on a case, beyond what DCS releases?

State law (see A.R.S. 8-807 I ) allows an individual to petition the Superior Court to request that the Court review the records and tell the Department which records can be released.

Requests may be emailed, faxed or mailed as indicated on the contact us page.

The more information you provide with your request, the faster the Department will be able to respond to your request. Please provide as much information as possible, including full names and dates of birth for the child, the parents and the alleged perpetrator (if a caregiver other than a parent).

The Records Coordinator will notify you when the request has been received, will provide you with periodic updates on the status of the request, and will provide the records to you once they are available.

At what age can a child be left home alone when we are at work?

Arizona's statutes (laws) do not designate an age when a child can be left alone. A parent is responsible for the decisions he or she makes about their children being left alone.  The law does require however, that the Arizona Department of Economic Security, Department of Child Safety (DCS) investigate reports of neglect which include failure to provide supervision that places a child at unreasonable risk of harm. Leaving children alone is included in the category of supervision.

DCS will take a report when a child, who is not capable of caring for him or herself or other children, is left alone. When calls come into DCS, specific questions are asked to help determine if there is a problem for the child. These may include: Does the child know how to reach the parent? Does the child know how to get emergency help? Is there a neighbor to go to? Is someone checking in on the child?

Sometimes police are called to the home. Before removing children, police will often try to make contact with the parent or other responsible person to come and supervise the children. The police are required to report this information to DCS. This could result in a DCS Specialist contacting the children and parent about the report and making an assessment of any needed services.  Parents must use good judgment about their children's capabilities, as they are ultimately responsible. We hope this helps in providing an answer to your question. If you need additional information or wish to speak to someone from DCS, call the Child Abuse Hotline: at 1-888-767-2445.

I'd like to resolve a complaint or disagreement with DCS.

DCS offers a series of steps to address and resolve complaints or disagreements.  If you have a complaint with DCS, visit this page.

The Goal of Department of Child Safety

Department of Child Safety’ primary objective is to keep children safe within their own families. DCS works cooperatively with parents to make that happen. Department of Child Safety is a program that seeks to help families by strengthening the ability of parents, guardians or custodians to provide good care for their children. The program tries to balance the legal rights of parents and the needs and rights of children to live in a physically and emotionally healthful situation.

How does the Department know that a child has died or nearly died as a result of abuse or neglect (i.e. maltreatment)?

All allegations received by DCS, including allegations that a child has died or nearly died as a result of abuse or neglect, are called into the statewide DCS Hotline.*

State law allows DCS to release case records, but that part of the law is limited to cases of abuse, abandonment or neglect resulting in a fatality or a near fatality. Therefore, there must be medical proof or other evidence that the fatality or near fatality was caused by abuse or neglect.

  • Among the information DCS considers when determining that a child’s death was the result of abuse or neglect are:
  • A statement from a physician or an autopsy finding that the child’s death was the result of abuse or neglect;
  • A statement from a parent, guardian or caregiver that they caused the child’s death or near death;
  • The arrest or criminal indictment of a parent, guardian or caregiver in connection with the child’s death;
  • or, A DCS investigation has resulted in a substantiated finding that abuse or neglect by a parent, guardian or caregiver caused the child's death or near death.

Additionally, in the case of a near fatality, a physician must certify that the child was in serious or critical condition due to the abuse or neglect.

* Not all maltreatment fatalities or near fatalities are reported to the statewide DCS Hotline. For example, law enforcement may not report a child death from maltreatment to DCS if there are no children in the home for whom there are safety concerns or risks. In addition, incidents that occur outside of DCS’ jurisdiction – for example, on tribal reservations or military installations – may not be reported to DCS.

What preliminary information will the Department release about all cases where a child has died or nearly died as a result of abuse or neglect?

State law (see § A.R.S. 8-807.01 A(1) a-g) requires that the following preliminary information be released about a case of abuse or neglect that results in a child fatality or near fatality: 

  1. In the case of a fatality, the name of the child who has died.
  2. The age, gender, county and general location of the residence of the child who has suffered a fatality or a near fatality.
  3. The fact that a child suffered a fatality or near fatality as the result of abuse, abandonment or neglect.
  4.  The name, age and city, town or general location of the residence of the alleged perpetrator, if available, unless the disclosure would violate the privacy of victims of crime pursuant to article II, section 2.1, Constitution of Arizona.
  5. Whether there have been reports, or any current or past cases, of abuse, abandonment or neglect involving the child or the alleged perpetrator.
  6. Actions taken by the department in response to the fatality or near fatality of the child.
  7. A detailed synopsis of prior reports or cases of abuse, abandonment or neglect involving the child or the alleged perpetrator and of the actions taken or determinations made by the department in response to these reports or cases.

The preliminary information will be posted on this website.

When will the preliminary information be released and how will the public know the preliminary information has been released?

The preliminary information will be released within 5 days of confirmation (Chapter 7 - Section 2) of DCS learning that a child’s death or near death is a result of maltreatment.

The information will be posted to this website.

What happens in cases where a child dies or nearly dies, but there is no medical proof or other evidence that the incident was a result of abuse or neglect (i.e., maltreatment)?

The law allows DCS to release records only in cases of abuse, abandonment or neglect resulting in a fatality or a near fatality. There must be medical proof or other evidence that the fatality or near fatality was caused by abuse or neglect.

Among the information DCS considers when determining that a child’s death was the result of abuse or neglect are:

  • A statement from a physician or an autopsy finding that the child’s death was the result of abuse or neglect;
  • A statement from a parent, guardian or caregiver that they caused the child’s death or near death;
  • the arrest or criminal indictment of a parent, guardian or caregiver in connection to the child’s death;
  • or, A DCS investigation has resulted in a substantiated finding that abuse or neglect by a parent, guardian or caregiver caused the child's death or near-death.

In addition, in the case of a near fatality, a physician must certify that the child was in serious or critical condition due to the abuse or neglect.

If there is insufficient information available to believe that the fatality or near fatality was caused by maltreatment, the Department, by federal and state law, cannot release records in the case.

How does someone request DCS records on a case where a child has died or nearly died as a result of abuse or neglect– beyond the preliminary information that is released?

Any individual may request DCS records on a case where a child has died or nearly died as a result of abuse or neglect (maltreatment) by contacting the Records Coordinator. Requests may be emailed, faxed or mailed as indicated on the contact us page.

The more information you provide with your request, the faster the Department will be able to respond to your request. Please provide as much information as possible, including full names and dates of birth for the child, the parents and the alleged perpetrator (if a caregiver other than a parent).

The Records Coordinator will notify you when the request has been received, will provide you with periodic updates on the status of your request, and will provide the records to you once they are available.

How soon will the DCS records be released?

The Department is committed to providing the records as quickly as possible. Individual cases will vary, depending on the case circumstances. State law requires that the Department coordinate with the appropriate prosecuting agency before records on specific cases can be released. It also requires that the Department take appropriate steps to protect the privacy of crime victims, sources of DCS reports, and innocent parties in a case (such as siblings, grandparents, etc.) before the DCS records can be released.

The Records Coordinator will provide periodic updates to requestors letting them know the status of their request.

Why do the records get reviewed by the prosecuting agency before they can be released to the public?

Law enforcement agencies statewide are critical partners in protecting children; they ensure that perpetrators of child abuse or neglect are held accountable for the harm they cause to children.

State law requires that the prosecuting agency be given the opportunity to review DCS records that may be released in order to determine whether the release of the records would cause “specific, material harm” to the criminal investigation.

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