Are you under investigation for suspected child abuse or neglect? Before interacting with the Department of Children & Families in Darien Connecticut, consider letting an experienced attorney help to protect your rights and your family.
DCF runs a 24/7 hotline for individuals to make reports of child abuse and neglect. Anyone can make a report if they suspect or witness abuse. Additionally, certain individuals are required to do so by law. These mandated reporters include individuals who work closely with children, like teachers, social workers, doctors, nurses, and mental health providers. These individuals can face criminal and / or civil liability if they fail to report suspected abuse, so they tend to err on the side of caution when determining whether to make a report.
After getting a report, DCF workers assess the risk to the child, and if warranted, assign an investigator to the family. Investigations usually begin within three days of receiving the report, but they can start sooner if DCF determines that a child may be in imminent danger.
Ultimately, DCF workers must determine whether to dismiss reports of abuse or neglect or to substantiate the reports and refer families for further services. This determination is largely based on the evidence gathered from interactions between Fairfield families and DCF workers.
Click here for more on fighting a Darien Connecticut DCF investigation.
The length and intensity of DCF investigations can vary, but families should expect investigators to visit them unexpectedly and request to inspect their homes. They will usually interview family members, including children, and other individuals who regularly have contact with the family, such as relatives, teachers, and babysitters. These visits and interviews are designed to help determine whether there is reasonable cause that parents or caretakers were abusive or neglectful of a child in their care.
Yes. Your family has rights when it comes to DCF cases, and you should seek legal advice as soon as you realize you are the target of an investigation. Although DCF workers may try to convince families to cooperate or face adverse consequences, parents and caretakers have the right to refuse interactions with DCF in Fairfield until they have received legal advice.
Follow this link for more on whether to cooperate with a Connecticut DCF investigation.
The early stages of a DCF investigation are the best time to fight the allegations against you and curtail the investigation. In many cases, families panic and fail to protect their rights or inadvertently do or say something that DCF investigators later use against them. By seeking legal advice before interacting with DCF, you may be able to stop an investigation in its tracks and avoid any harm to your family. Our 5-star certified client reviews speak for themselves. To learn more about how a Darien DCF investigation lawyer could help, call Mark Sherman Law today.
