Removal (Expungement) from the Child Protection Register
The District’s Child Protection Register is a confidential database of names of people who have an inconclusive or substantiated report of abuse or neglect against them.
In 2022, the DC Council passed a law that created a pathway for individuals to have certain types of reports removed (or “expunged “) from the Register. Children’s Law Center advocated for, and continues to support, this important tool to lift the burden of child welfare involvement from thousands of families across the District.
Since the law went into effect, over 55,000 people have had their names removed from the Child Protection Register by the Child and Family Services Agency (CFSA). Names will continue to be removed as they meet eligibility requirements. People have been removed based on the following criteria:
Read these CFSA resources to learn more about which types of reports are eligible for expungement and see frequently asked questions:
- Fact Sheet: Expungement from the Child Protection Register
- Fact Sheet in Other Languages (bottom of webpage)
- Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I have reports on the Register?
To find out if your name is on the Register, you can submit a CPR “self-check” application to CFSA here: htps://cfsa.dc.gov/service/child-protection-register-cpr.
If you believe you should not be on the Register, you can contact cfsa.expungement@dc.gov or call (202) 442-6100.
I have multiple reports on the Register. Will CFSA expunge all of them?
It depends. Not all reports are eligible. If you have multiple reports on the Register, some reports could be expunged even though other reports might not qualify.
Why is it important to have a way to be removed from the Child Protection Register?
Reports in the Child Protection Register cover a wide variety of circumstances, including those stemming from issues of neglect – such as inadequate supervision, poor housing conditions, missing too many days of school, and other situations that do not involve violence against children. These reports are not necessarily helpful in determining whether a person can safely care for children – especially when those reports are decades old.
Before the new law was enacted, placement on the Child Protection Register was permanent, resulting in lifetime barriers to employment and family stability – both of which directly impact the well-being of children and families in the District.
Individuals whose names are in the Register cannot have jobs involving close contact with children, including schools, out-of-school programming, and daycares. In addition to being sectors where the District is suffering serious workforce shortages, these are critical jobs and incomes that many families need access to in order to meet their children’s basic needs.
Additionally, having an old report in the Register can prevent someone from being able to serve as a caregiver or kin foster parent for members of their own family even though they are capable of doing so. This needlessly harms children and does not serve the interest of child safety.