Out-of-State Law Enforcement Agencies

Inquiry Requests From Out-of-State Law Enforcement Agencies

California Penal Code section 11170(d) authorizes the California Department of Justice (DOJ) to provide Child Abuse Central Index (CACI) information to out-of-state law enforcement agencies conducting investigations of known or suspected child abuse or neglect.

CACI information will be released only when the requesting agency meets all of the following statutory requirements described below.

Request Requirements

• Must be submitted in writing on the agency’s letterhead.
• Must be signed by a department supervisor.
• Must identify the suspected abuser or victim by name and date of birth, or approximate age.
• Must cite the out-of-state statute or interstate compact provision that requires information contained in child abuse reports to be disclosed only to:
  • Law enforcement agencies
  • Prosecutorial entities
  • Multidisciplinary investigative teams
• Must also describe the safeguards in place to prevent unlawful disclosure of confidential information provided by the requesting state or under the applicable interstate compact.

If the request does not include the required statutory citation and disclosure safeguards, access to CACI information will be denied.

Submitting a Request

Requests must be submitted in writing and may be sent by email, fax, or mail.

Email

CACI-inquiry@doj.ca.gov

Fax

(916) 227-5037

Mail

California Department of Justice
Bureau of Criminal Information and Analysis
Child Abuse Central Index
P.O. Box 903387
Sacramento, CA 94203-3870

Statutory Authority

California Penal Code section 11170(d):

(d) The department shall make available any information maintained pursuant to subdivision (a) to out-of-state law enforcement agencies conducting investigations of known or suspected child abuse or neglect only when an agency makes the request for information in writing and on official letterhead, or as designated by the department, identifying the suspected abuser or victim by name and date of birth or approximate age. The request shall be signed by the department supervisor of the requesting law enforcement agency. The written requests shall cite the out-of-state statute or interstate compact provision that requires that the information contained within these reports shall be disclosed only to law enforcement, prosecutorial entities, or multidisciplinary investigative teams, and shall cite the safeguards in place to prevent unlawful disclosure of any confidential information provided by the requesting state or the applicable interstate compact provision.