What action can a Child Protective Investigator take during the investigation?
In some investigations, the case will be closed without any action because the investigation shows that no evidence exists to show child abuse or child neglect. In other cases, the child protective investigator will create a “safety plan” that is intended to correct some perceived problem in the home. In other cases, the investigator may request court intervention through a dependency hearing. Once the Child Protective Investigator recommends that you take some action, you can refuse to cooperate. That refusal, however, can be used by the Child Protective Investigator to take other action including court intervention. Having an attorney to advise you during each stage of the investigation can be particularly helpful. In cases in which physical evidence exists, the child protective investigator may require a medical evaluation.
