10:129-2.3 Time frames for initial investigation |
(a) The child protective investigator shall start the investigation of a report within either two hours or 24 hours of the State Central Registry representative determining the time frame and notifying the field office or the after-hours child protective investigator of the report, unless a Division or other entity authorizes a delay based upon the request of a law enforcement official, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.11. | ||
(b) The State Central Registry representative determines whether each report meets one or more of the following criteria. The State Central Registry representative determines each report that meets one or more of the following criteria shall be investigated within two hours of receipt at the State Central Registry. The criteria are: | ||||
1. Law enforcement personnel request an immediate response; | ||||
2. An immediate response will prevent the loss of evidence; | ||||
3. A child has died due to abuse or neglect and a sibling remains under the care of a parent or guardian; | ||||
4. A child is a boarder baby left in a hospital or born drug-exposed; | ||||
5. A child under age six is alone at the time the State Central Registry receives the report; | ||||
6. A child requires medical attention at the time the State Central Registry receives the report; or | ||||
7. A child is being seriously physically abused at the time the State Central Registry receives the report. | ||||
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