1. (a) The Agency shall conduct a thorough investigation of a report of suspected child abuse or neglect to protect the health and safety of the child or children.

2. (b) The investigation shall commence:

   1. (1) Immediately upon receiving a report of suspected abuse or neglect indicating that the child’s safety or health is in immediate danger; and
   2. (2) As soon as possible, and at least within 24 hours, upon receiving any report not involving immediate danger to the child.

3. (c) The initial phase of the investigation shall:

   1. (1) Be completed within 24 hours of its commencement;
   2. (2) Include notification and coordination with the Metropolitan Police Department when there is indication of a crime, including sexual or serious physical abuse; and

   3. (3) Include:

      1. (A) Seeing the child and all other children in the household outside of the presence of the caretaker or caretakers;
      2. (B) Conducting an interview with the child's caretaker or caretakers, during which time the Agency shall inform the caretaker of their right to counsel pursuant to § 16-2304(b)(1), legal resources available to the caretaker, and the availability of the Ombudsperson for Children as a resource to receive complaints pursuant to § 4-671.04.
      3. (C) Speaking with the source of the report;
      4. (D) Assessing the safety and risk of harm to the child from abuse or neglect in the place where the child lives;
      5. (E) Deciding on the safety of the child and of other children in the household;
      6. (F) Deciding on the safety of other children in the care or custody of the person or persons alleged to be abusing or neglecting the child;
      7. (G) A finding as to whether the report of abuse or neglect is substantiated, inconclusive, or unfounded; and
      8. (H) Written notification of legal resources available to the child's reported caretaker or caretakers at the initiation of the investigation process.
4. (d) The Agency may request the assistance of the Metropolitan Police Department to assist in the investigation or to ensure the safety of Agency staff.

5. (e)

   1. (1) Repealed.
   2. (2) Repealed.

Editor's Notes

Section 7011 of D.C. Law 20-61 repealed D.C. Law 18-228, § 3.

Section 3 of D.C. Law 18-228 provided: “Sec. 3. Applicability. This act shall apply upon the inclusion of its fiscal effect in an approved budget and financial plan.”

For applicability of D.C. Law 13-277, see note following § 4-1303.01a.

Short Title

Section 7001 of D.C. Law 20-61 provided that Subtitle A of Title VII of the act may be cited as the “Subject to Appropriations Repealers Amendment Act of 2013”.

Short title: Section 5051 of D.C. Law 19-21 provided that subtitle F of title V of the act may be cited as “Families Together Amendment Act of 2011”.

History

Sept. 23, 1977, D.C. Law 2-22, title I, § 104, 24 DCR 3341

Apr. 4, 2001, D.C. Law 13-277, § 2(b), 48 DCR 2043

Apr. 12, 2005, D.C. Law 15-341,§ 2(b), 52 DCR 2315

Sept. 24, 2010, D.C. Law 18-228, § 2(b), 57 DCR 6926

Sept. 14, 2011, D.C. Law 19-21, § 5052(a), 58 DCR 6226

Mar. 21, 2025, D.C. Law 25-299, § 2(b)

June 11, 2026, D.C. Law 26-133, § 2

Emergency Legislation

For temporary (90 days) repeal of D.C. Law 18-228, § 3, see § 7011 of the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Support Congressional Review Emergency Act of 2013 (D.C. Act 20-204, October 17, 2013, 60 DCR 15341, 20 DCSTAT 2311).

For temporary (90 days) repeal of D.C. Law 18-228, § 3, see § 7011 of the Fiscal Year 2014 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2013 (D.C. Act 20-130, July 30, 2013, 60 DCR 11384, 20 DCSTAT 1827).

For temporary repeal of D.C. Law 18-228, § 3, see § 109 of the Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Support Technical Clarification Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2012 (D.C. Act 19-604, January 14, 2013, 60 DCR 1045), applicable as of January 10, 2013.

For temporary repeal of D.C. Law 18-228, § 3, see § 109 of the Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Support Technical Clarification Emergency Amendment Act of 2012 (D.C. Act 19-482, October 12, 2012, 59 DCR 12478).

For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 5022(a) of Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2011 (D.C. Act 19-93, June 29, 2011, 58 DCR 5599).

Temporary Legislation

Section 402(b) of D.C. Law 19-226 provided that the act shall expire after 225 days of its having taken effect.

Section 109 of D.C. Law 19-226 repealed D.C. Law 18-228, § 3.

Effect of Amendments

D.C. Law 19-21 repealed subsec. (e)(1); and, in subsec. (e)(2), substituted “December 15, 2011” for “October 1, 2010” in the lead-in language, substituted “to phase in full implementation of this alternative to investigation;” for “toward full implementation of this alternative to investigation; and” in subpar. (A), substituted “process; and” for “process.” in subpar. (B), and added subpar. (C).

D.C. Law 18-228 rewrote the section.

D.C. Law 15-341 rewrote the section.

D.C. Law 13-277 substituted “Agency” for “Division” throughout the section.

Prior Codifications

1973 Ed., § 6-2102.

1981 Ed., § 6-2102.

Section References

This section is referenced in § 4-1301.06a, § 4-1303.03, and § 4-1303.04.