Child Molesters Need Not Apply: A History of Pennsylvania's Child Protective Services Law and Legislative Efforts to Prevent the Hiring of Abusers by Child Care Agencies

• NCJ Number: 111828
• Journal: Dickinson Law Review Volume: 89 Issue: 3 Dated: (Spring 1985) Pages: 669-690
• Author(s): P T Beaty; M R Woolley
• Date Published: 1985
• Length: 22 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Pennsylvania was one of the first States to adopt a noncriminal approach to child abuse prevention when it adopted the Child Protective Services Law of 1975.

Abstract

The law established a statewide central register of child abuse and established a statewide hotline to encourage reporting of suspected abuse. It also mandated the establishment of child protective service agencies in all counties to investigate suspected abuse and take immediate action to protect children where necessary. While the law included stringent confidentiality safeguards, recent legislation created exceptions to these provisions. A 1984 amendment now requires operators of child care facilities to check with the central child abuse registry and the State criminal history bank prior to hiring an employee. Because this amendment was enacted prior to congressional passage of the DeConcini-Specter Amendment tying funding to child care employee screening and background checks, the Pennsylvania law is not fully compliance and will, consequently, be considered again during the 1985-1986 legislative session. The history of Pennsylvania's law shows an increasing emphasis on prevention first begun 10 years ago. 137 footnotes.