New Jersey
Mandated reporters are individuals who are legally required to report known or suspected abuse and neglect of vulnerable populations to state and/or local authorities. Laws surrounding mandated reporting vary from state-to-state so please ensure your familiarity with your state's laws regarding individuals who are required to report known or suspected abuse and neglect.
Links
- State regulation.
- State training and resources
- Abuse hotline: 1-877-NJ-ABUSE.
New Jersey CARI Requests
Those who are subject to Child Abuse Record Information (CARI) checks include:
- Child Care Center Employees – N.J.S.A. 30:5B-6.2.
- DCF Employees and Contracted Partners – N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.10f (2017).
- Department of Human Services (DHS) Employees and Contracted Partners – N.J.S.A 9:6-8.10f (2017).
- Resource Parent Applicants – N.J.S.A. 30:4C-27.7.
- Kinship Legal Guardians – N.J.S.A. 30:4C-86.
- DCF/Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) Residential Center Employees – N.J.S.A. 30:4C-27.22.
- Registered Family Child Care providers – N.J.S.A. 30:5B-25.3.
- Division of Family Development (DFD) Approved Homes – N.J.S.A. 30:5B-32.
- Professional Guardians for the Elderly – N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.10e.
- Persons assuming care for children of incarcerated parents – N.J.S.A. 9:6-8-10c.
- Adoption Agency Employees – N.J.S.A. – 9:3-40.8.
- Adoptive Parent Applicants (private or DCF) – N.J.S.A. 9:3-54.2.
- Prospective Court-Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers – N.J.S.A. – 2A:4A-92(d)(2).
- Juvenile Justice Commission employees – Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) – 42 U.S.C. 15601; 28 CFR 115.317; N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.10a (b)(20).
NJ DCF information and records are considered confidential pursuant to N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.10a Records of child abuse reports; confidentiality; disclosure.
If you are a New Jersey resident in need of a child abuse/neglect background check and you are not in the list above, please contact the CARI unit at 855-744-4913 and ask to speak with a supervisor.
The Central Registry of Offenders Against Individuals with Developmental Disabilities is maintained by the New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS). This registry helps ensure the safety of individuals with developmental disabilities by identifying caregivers who have been determined to have abused, neglected, or exploited individuals in their care.
The registry is confidential and is used by DHS and the New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF) to prevent unsuitable individuals from working or volunteering in programs serving people with developmental disabilities.
