25 USC 3204 - Central registry

Collapse to view only § 3204. Central registry

§ 3201. Findings and purpose
§ 3202. Definitions
§ 3203. Reporting procedures
§ 3204. Central registry
§ 3205. Confidentiality
§ 3206. Waiver of parental consent
§ 3207. Character investigations
§ 3208. Indian Child Abuse Treatment Grant Program
§ 3209. Indian Child Resource and Family Services Centers
§ 3210. Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Program
§ 3211. Repealed.

§ 3201. Findings and purpose

(a) FindingsThe Congress, after careful review of the problem of child abuse on Indian reservations and the historical and special relationship of the Federal Government with Indian people,

(1) finds that—

(A) incidents of abuse of children on Indian reservations are grossly underreported;

(B) such underreporting is often a result of the lack of a mandatory Federal reporting law;

(C) multiple incidents of sexual abuse of children on Indian reservations have been perpetrated by persons employed or funded by the Federal Government;

(D) Federal Government investigations of the background of Federal employees who care for, or teach, Indian children are often deficient;

(E) funds spent by the United States on Indian reservations or otherwise spent for the benefit of Indians who are victims of child abuse or family violence are inadequate to meet the growing needs for mental health treatment and counseling for victims of child abuse or family violence and their families; and

(F) there is no resource that is more vital to the continued existence and integrity of Indian tribes than their children and the United States has a direct interest, as trustee, in protecting Indian children who are members of, or are eligible for membership in, an Indian tribe; and

(2) declares that two major goals of the United States are to—

(A) identify the scope of incidents of abuse of children and family violence in Indian country and to reduce such incidents; and

(B) provide funds for mental health treatment for Indian victims of child abuse and family violence on Indian reservations.

(b) PurposeThe purposes of this chapter are to—

(1) require that reports of abused Indian children are made to the appropriate authorities in an effort to prevent further abuse;

(2) establish a reliable data base for statistical purposes and to authorize a study to determine the need for a central registry for reported incidents of abuse;

(3) authorize such other actions as are necessary to ensure effective child protection in Indian country;

(4) establish the Indian Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Grant Program to provide funds for the establishment on Indian reservations of treatment programs for victims of child sexual abuse;

(5) provide for technical assistance and training related to the investigation and treatment of cases of child abuse and neglect;

(6) establish Indian Child Resource and Family Services Centers in each Bureau of Indian Affairs Area Office which will consist of multi-disciplinary teams of personnel with experience and training in the prevention, identification, investigation, and treatment of child abuse and neglect;

(7) provide for the treatment and prevention of incidents of family violence;

(8) establish tribally operated programs to protect Indian children and reduce the incidents of family violence in Indian country; and

(9) authorize other actions necessary to ensure effective child protection on Indian reservations.

(Pub. L. 101–630, title IV, § 402, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4544.)

§ 3202. DefinitionsFor the purposes of this chapter, the term—

(1) “Bureau” means the Bureau of Indian Affairs of the Department of the Interior;

(2) “child” means an individual who—

(A) is not married, and

(B) has not attained 18 years of age;

(3) “child abuse” includes but is not limited to—

(A) any case in which—

(i) a child is dead or exhibits evidence of skin bruising, bleeding, malnutrition, failure to thrive, burns, fracture of any bone, subdural hematoma, soft tissue swelling, and

(ii) such condition is not justifiably explained or may not be the product of an accidental occurrence; and

(B) any case in which a child is subjected to sexual assault, sexual molestation, sexual exploitation, sexual contact, or prostitution;

(4) “child neglect” includes but is not limited to, negligent treatment or maltreatment of a child by a person, including a person responsible for the child’s welfare, under circumstances which indicate that the child’s health or welfare is harmed or threatened thereby;

(5) “family violence” means any act, or threatened act, of violence, including any forceful detention of an individual, which—

(A) results, or threatens to result, in physical or mental injury, and

(B) is committed by an individual against another individual—

(i) to whom such person is, or was, related by blood or marriage or otherwise legally related, or

(ii) with whom such person is, or was, residing;

(6) “Indian” means any individual who is a member of an Indian tribe;

(7) “Indian child” has the meaning given to such term by section 1903(4) of this title;

(8) “Indian country” has the meaning given to such term by section 1151 of title 18;

(9) “Indian reservation” means any Indian reservation, public domain Indian allotment, former Indian reservation in Oklahoma, or lands held by incorporated Native groups, regional corporations, or village corporations under the provisions of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.);

(10) “Indian tribe” and “tribal organization” have the respective meanings given to each of such terms under section 5304 of this title;

(11) “inter-tribal consortium” means a partnership between—

(A) an Indian tribe or tribal organization of an Indian tribe, and

(B) one or more Indian tribes or tribal organizations of one or more other Indian tribes;

(12) “local child protective services agency” means that agency of the Federal Government, of a State, or of an Indian tribe that has the primary responsibility for child protection on any Indian reservation or within any community in Indian country;

(13) “local law enforcement agency” means that Federal, tribal, or State law enforcement agency that has the primary responsibility for the investigation of an instance of alleged child abuse within the portion of Indian country involved;

(14) “persons responsible for a child’s welfare” means any person who has legal or other recognized duty for the care and safety of a child, including—

(A) any employee or volunteer of a children’s residential facility, and

(B) any person providing out-of-home care, education, or services to children;

(15) “related assistance”—

(A) includes counseling and self-help services to abusers, victims, and dependents in family violence situations (which shall include counseling of all family members to the extent feasible) and referrals for appropriate health-care services (including alcohol and drug abuse treatment), and

(B) may include food, clothing, child care, transportation, and emergency services for victims of family violence and their dependents;

(16) “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior;

(17) “shelter” means the provision of temporary refuge and related assistance in compliance with applicable Federal and tribal laws and regulations governing the provision, on a regular basis, of shelter, safe homes, meals, and related assistance to victims of family violence or their dependents; and

(18) “Service” means the Indian Health Service of the Department of Health and Human Services.

(Pub. L. 101–630, title IV, § 403, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4545.)

§ 3203. Reporting procedures

(a) Omitted

(b) Notification of child abuse reports

(1) When a local law enforcement agency or local child protective services agency receives an initial report from any person of—

(A) the abuse of a child in Indian country, or

(B) actions which would reasonably be expected to result in abuse of a child in Indian country, the receiving agency shall immediately notify appropriate officials of the other agency of such report and shall also submit, when prepared, a copy of the written report required under subsection (c) to such agency.

(2) Where a report of abuse involves an Indian child or where the alleged abuser is an Indian and where a preliminary inquiry indicates a criminal violation has occurred, the local law enforcement agency, if other than the Federal Bureau of Investigation, shall immediately report such occurrence to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

(1) Within 36 hours after receiving an initial report described in subsection (b), the receiving agency shall prepare a written report which shall include, if available—

(A) the name, address, age, and sex of the child that is the subject of the report;

(B) the grade and the school in which the child is currently enrolled;

(D) the name and address of the alleged offender;

(E) the name and address of the person who made the report to the agency;

(F) a brief narrative as to the nature and extent of the child’s injuries, including any previously known or suspected abuse of the child or the child’s siblings and the suspected date of the abuse; and

(G) any other information the agency or the person who made the report to the agency believes to be important to the investigation and disposition of the alleged abuse.

(2)

(A) Any local law enforcement agency or local child protective services agency that receives a report alleging abuse described in section 3202(3) 1

1 See References in Text note below.

of this title shall immediately initiate an investigation of such allegation and shall take immediate, appropriate steps to secure the safety and well-being of the child or children involved.

(B) Upon completion of the investigation of any report of alleged abuse that is made to a local law enforcement agency or local child protective services agency, such agency shall prepare a final written report on such allegation.

(d) Confidentiality of informant

(Pub. L. 101–630, title IV, § 404, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4547.)

§ 3204. Central registry

(a) Preparation of study

(b) Content of study

The study conducted pursuant to subsection (a) shall include, but shall not be limited to—

(1) the need for, and purpose of, a Central Register;

(2) the examination of due process implication of the maintenance of such a register;

(3) the extension of access to information contained in the register;

(4) the need and process for expunging information from the register;

(5) the types, and duration of maintenance, of information in the register; and

(6) the classes of persons who should be covered by such register.

(Pub. L. 101–630, title IV, § 405, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4549.)

§ 3205. Confidentiality

Pursuant to section 552a of title 5, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. 1232g), or any other provision of law, agencies of any Indian tribe, of any State, or of the Federal Government that investigate and treat incidents of abuse of children may provide information and records to those agencies of any Indian tribe, any State, or the Federal Government that need to know the information in performance of their duties. For purposes of this section, Indian tribal governments shall be treated the same as other Federal Government entities.

(Pub. L. 101–630, title IV, § 406, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4550.)

§ 3206. Waiver of parental consent

(a) Examinations and interviews

(b) Interviews by law enforcement and child protective services officials

(d) Court orders

(Pub. L. 101–630, title IV, § 407, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4550; Pub. L. 101–650, title III, § 321, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5117.)

§ 3207. Character investigations

(a) By Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of Health and Human ServicesThe Secretary and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall—

(1) compile a list of all authorized positions within their respective departments the duties and responsibilities of which involve regular contact with, or control over, Indian children,

(2) conduct an investigation of the character of each individual who is employed, or is being considered for employment, by the respective Secretary in a position listed pursuant to paragraph (1), and

(3) prescribe by regulations minimum standards of character that each of such individuals must meet to be appointed to such positions.

(b) Criminal records

(c) Investigations by Indian tribes and tribal organizationsEach Indian tribe or tribal organization that receives funds under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act [25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.] or the Tribally Controlled Schools Act of 1988 [25 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.] shall—

(1) conduct an investigation of the character of each individual who is employed, or is being considered for employment, by such tribe or tribal organization in a position that involves regular contact with, or control over, Indian children, and

(2) employ individuals in those positions only if the individuals meet standards of character, no less stringent than those prescribed under subsection (a), as the Indian tribe or tribal organization shall establish.

(d) By tribal social services agency for foster care placements in tribal court proceedings

(1) DefinitionsIn this subsection:

(A) Covered individualThe term “covered individual” includes—

(i) any individual 18 years of age or older; and

(ii) any individual who the tribal social services agency determines is subject to a criminal records check under paragraph (2)(A).

(B) Foster care placementThe term “foster care placement” means any action removing an Indian child from a parent or Indian custodian for temporary placement in a foster home or institution or the home of a guardian or conservator if—

(i) the parent or Indian custodian cannot have the child returned on demand; and

(ii)(I) parental rights have not been terminated; or(II) parental rights have been terminated but the child has not been permanently placed.

(i) who has legal custody of an Indian child under tribal law or custom or under State law; or

(ii) to whom temporary physical care, custody, and control has been transferred by the parent of the child.

(D) ParentThe term “parent” means—

(i) any biological parent of an Indian child; or

(ii) any Indian who has lawfully adopted an Indian child, including adoptions under tribal law or custom.

(E) Tribal courtThe term “tribal court” means a court—

(i) with jurisdiction over foster care placements; and

(ii) that is—(I) a Court of Indian Offenses;(II) a court established and operated under the code or custom of an Indian tribe; or(III) any other administrative body of an Indian tribe that is vested with authority over foster care placements.

(F) Tribal social services agency

(2) Criminal records check before foster care placement

(A) In generalExcept as provided in paragraph (3), no foster care placement shall be finally approved and no foster care license shall be issued until the tribal social services agency—

(i) completes a criminal records check of each covered individual who resides in the household or is employed at the institution in which the foster care placement will be made; and

(ii) concludes that each covered individual described in clause (i) meets such standards as the Indian tribe shall establish in accordance with subparagraph (B).

(B) Standards of placementThe standards described in subparagraph (A)(ii) shall include—

(i) requirements that each tribal social services agency described in subparagraph (A)—(I) perform criminal records checks, including fingerprint-based checks of national crime information databases (as defined in section 534(f)(3) of title 28);(II) check any abuse registries maintained by the Indian tribe; and(III) check any child abuse and neglect registry maintained by the State in which the covered individual resides for information on the covered individual, and request any other State in which the covered individual resided in the preceding 5 years, to enable the tribal social services agency to check any child abuse and neglect registry maintained by that State for such information; and

(ii) any other additional requirement that the Indian tribe determines is necessary and permissible within the existing authority of the Indian tribe, such as the creation of voluntary agreements with State entities in order to facilitate the sharing of information related to the performance of criminal records checks.

(3) Emergency placement

(4) Recertification of foster homes or institutions

(A) In general

(B) ContentsThe procedures described in subparagraph (A) shall include, at a minimum, periodic intervals at which the home or institution shall be subject to recertification to ensure—

(i) the safety of the home or institution for the Indian child; and

(ii) that each covered individual who resides in the home or is employed at the institution is subject to a criminal records check in accordance with this subsection, including any covered individual who—(I) resides in the home or is employed at the institution on the date on which the procedures established under subparagraph (A) commences; 1

1 So in original. Probably should be “commence;”.

and(II) did not reside in the home or was not employed at the institution on the date on which the investigation described in paragraph (2)(A)(i) was completed.

(5) GuidanceNot later than 2 years after June 3, 2016, and after consultation with Indian tribes, the Secretary shall issue guidance regarding—

(A) procedures for a criminal records check of any covered individual who—

(i) resides in the home or is employed at the institution in which the foster care placement is made after the date on which the investigation described in paragraph (2)(A)(i) is completed; and

(ii) was not the subject of an investigation described in paragraph (2)(A)(i) before the foster care placement was made;

(B) self-reporting requirements for foster care homes or institutions in which any covered individual described in subparagraph (A) resides if the head of the household or the operator of the institution has knowledge that the covered individual—

(i) has been found by a Federal, State, or tribal court to have committed any crime listed in clause (i) or (ii) of section 671(a)(20)(A) of title 42; or

(ii) is listed on a registry described in clause (II) or (III) of paragraph (2)(B)(i);

(C) promising practices used by Indian tribes to address emergency foster care placement procedures under paragraph (3); and

(D) procedures for certifying compliance with this chapter.

(Pub. L. 101–630, title IV, § 408, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4551; Pub. L. 106–568, title VIII, § 814, Dec. 27, 2000, 114 Stat. 2918; Pub. L. 114–165, § 2, June 3, 2016, 130 Stat. 415.)

§ 3208. Indian Child Abuse Treatment Grant Program

(a) Establishment

(b) Grant applications

(1) Any Indian tribe or intertribal consortium may submit to the Secretary of Health and Human Services an application for a grant under subsection (a).

(2) Any application submitted under paragraph (1)—

(A) shall be in such form as the Secretary of Health and Human Services may prescribe;

(B) shall be submitted to such Secretary on or before the date designated by such Secretary; and

(i) the nature of the program proposed by the applicant,

(ii) the data and information on which the program is based,

(iii) the extent to which the program plans to use or incorporate existing services available on the reservation, and

(iv) the specific treatment concepts to be used under the program.

(d) Grant administration and final reportEach recipient of a grant awarded under subsection (a) shall—

(1) furnish the Secretary of Health and Human Services with such information as such Secretary may require to—

(A) evaluate the program for which the grant is made, and

(B) ensure that the grant funds are expended for the purposes for which the grant was made, and

(2) submit to such Secretary at the close of the term of the grant a final report which shall include such information as the Secretary may require.

(e) Authorization of appropriations

(Pub. L. 101–630, title IV, § 409, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4551; Pub. L. 104–16, § 1, June 21, 1995, 109 Stat. 190.)

§ 3209. Indian Child Resource and Family Services Centers

(a) Establishment

(b) Memorandum of Agreement

(d) Center responsibilities and functions

Each Center established under subsection (a) shall—

(1) provide advice, technical assistance, and consultation to Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and inter-tribal consortia upon request;

(2) provide training to appropriate personnel of Indian tribes, tribal organizations, the Bureau and the Service on the identification and investigation of cases of family violence, child abuse, and child neglect and, to the extent practicable, coordinate with institutions of higher education, including tribally controlled community colleges, to offer college-level credit to interested trainees;

(3) develop training materials on the prevention, identification, investigation, and treatment of incidents of family violence, child abuse, and child neglect for distribution to Indian tribes and to tribal organizations;

(4) develop recommendations to assist Federal and tribal personnel to respond to cases of family violence, child abuse, and child neglect; and

(5) develop policies and procedures for each agency office of the Bureau and service unit of the Service within the area which, to the extent feasible, comply with tribal laws pertaining to cases of family violence, child abuse, and child neglect, including any criminal laws, and which provide for maximum cooperation with the enforcement of such laws.

(e) Multidisciplinary team personnel

Each multidisciplinary team established under this section shall include, but is not limited to, personnel with a background in—

(1) law enforcement,

(2) child protective services,

(3) juvenile counseling and adolescent mental health, and

(4) domestic violence.

(f) Center advisory board

(g) Application of Indian Self-Determination Act to Centers

(h) Authorization of appropriations

(Pub. L. 101–630, title IV, § 410, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4552; Pub. L. 104–16, § 1, June 21, 1995, 109 Stat. 190.)

§ 3210. Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Program

(a) Establishment

(b) Indian Self-Determination Act agreements

(c) Investigation and treatment and prevention of child abuse and family violenceAn Indian tribe operating an Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention program established under this section shall designate the agency or officials which shall be responsible—

(1) for the investigation of reported cases of child abuse and child neglect; and

(2) for the treatment and prevention of incidents of family violence; and

(3) for the provision of immediate shelter and related assistance for victims of family violence and their dependents.

(d) Program responsibilities and functionsFunds provided pursuant to this section may be used for—

(1) the establishment of a child protective services program which may include—

(A) the employment of child protective services staff to investigate cases of child abuse and child neglect,

(B) training programs for child protective services personnel, law enforcement personnel, and judicial personnel in the investigation, prevention, and treatment of cases of child abuse and child neglect, and

(2) the establishment of a family violence prevention and treatment program which may include—

(A) the employment of family violence prevention and treatment staff to respond to incidents of family violence,

(B) the provision of immediate shelter and related assistance for victims of family violence and their dependents,

(C) training programs for family violence prevention and treatment personnel, law enforcement personnel, and judicial personnel in the investigation, prevention, and treatment of cases of family violence; and

(D) construction or renovation of facilities for the establishment of family violence shelters;

(3) the development and implementation of a multidisciplinary child abuse investigation and prosecution program which may—

(A) coordinate child abuse prevention, investigation, prosecution, treatment, and counseling services,

(B) develop protocols among related agencies to ensure that investigations of child abuse cases, to the extent practicable, minimize the trauma to the child victim, and

(C) provide for the coordination and cooperation of law enforcement agencies, courts of competent jurisdiction, and other tribal, Federal, and State agencies through intergovernmental or interagency agreements that define and specify each party’s responsibilities;

(4) the development of tribal child protection codes and regulations;

(5) the establishment of training programs for—

(A) professional and paraprofessional personnel in the fields of medicine, law, education, social work, and other relevant fields who are engaged in, or intend to work in, the field of prevention, identification, investigation, and treatment of family violence, child abuse, and child neglect,

(B) instruction in methods of protecting children from abuse and neglect for persons responsible for the welfare of Indian children, including parents of, and persons who work with, Indian children, or

(C) educational, identification, prevention and treatment services for child abuse and child neglect in cooperation with preschool, elementary and secondary schools, or tribally controlled college or university 1

1 So in original. Probably should be “colleges or universities”.

(within the meaning of section 1801 of this title);

(6) other community education efforts for tribal members (including school children) regarding issues of family violence, child abuse, and child neglect; and

(7) such other innovative and culturally relevant programs and projects as the Secretary may approve, including programs and projects for—

(A) parental awareness and self-help,

(B) prevention and treatment of alcohol and drug-related family violence, child abuse, and child neglect, or

that show promise of successfully preventing and treating cases of family violence, child abuse, and child neglect.

(f)2

2 So in original. No subsec. (e) has been enacted.

Secretarial regulations; base support funding

(1) The Secretary, with the participation of Indian tribes, shall establish, and promulgate by regulations, a formula which establishes base support funding for Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention programs.

(2) In the development of regulations for base support funding for such programs, the Secretary shall develop, in consultation with Indian tribes, appropriate caseload standards and staffing requirements which are comparable to standards developed by the National Association of Social Work, the Child Welfare League of America and other professional associations in the field of social work and child welfare. Each level of funding assistance shall correspond to the staffing requirements established by the Secretary pursuant to this section.

(3) Factors to be considered in the development of the base support funding formula shall include, but are not limited to—

(A) projected service population of the program;

(B) projected service area of the program;

(D) special circumstances warranting additional program resources, such as high incidence of child sexual abuse, high incidence of violent crimes against women, or the existence of a significant victim population within the community.

(4) The formula established pursuant to this subsection shall provide funding necessary to support—

(A) one child protective services or family violence caseworker, including fringe benefits and support costs, for each tribe; and

(B) an additional child protective services and family violence caseworker, including fringe benefits and support costs, for each level of assistance for which an Indian tribe qualifies.

(5) In any fiscal year that appropriations are not sufficient to fully fund Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention programs at each level of assistance under the formula required to be established in this subsection, available funds for each level of assistance shall be evenly divided among the tribes qualifying for that level of assistance.

(g) Maintenance of effortServices provided under contracts made under this section shall supplement, not supplant, services from any other funds available for the same general purposes, including, but not limited to—

(1) treatment, including, but not limited to—

(A) individual counseling,

(B) group counseling, and

(2) social services and case management;

(3) training available to Indian tribes, tribal agencies, and Indian organizations regarding the identification, investigation, prevention, and treatment of family violence, child abuse, and child neglect; and

(4) law enforcement services, including investigations and prosecutions.

(h) Contract evaluation and annual reportEach recipient of funds awarded pursuant to subsection (a) shall—

(1) furnish the Secretary with such information as the Secretary may require to—

(A) evaluate the program for which the award is made, and

(B) ensure that funds are expended for the purposes for which the award was made; and

(2) submit to the Secretary at the end of each fiscal year an annual report which shall include such information as the Secretary may require.

(i) Authorization of appropriations

(Pub. L. 101–630, title IV, § 411, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4553; Pub. L. 104–16, § 1, June 21, 1995, 109 Stat. 190; Pub. L. 105–244, title IX, § 901(d), Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1828; Pub. L. 110–315, title IX, § 941(k)(2)(J), Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3467.)

§ 3211. Repealed. Pub. L. 105–362, title VIII, § 801(a), Nov. 10, 1998, 112 Stat. 3287