Child Fatality Reports

Child deaths in New York State that allegedly resulted from abuse or maltreatment are reported to the Statewide Central Register (SCR) of Child Abuse and Maltreatment and investigated by the local department of social services (LDSS). By law, certain reports are investigated in coordination with law enforcement.

The New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) is required by statute to conduct a review of each fatality investigation and issue a summary report within six months of the local investigation. OCFS reviews a family’s history three years before the fatality, including ongoing and prior and current child protective investigations and services a child or family may been receiving prior to the fatality. If OCFS determines that there were lapses in adhering to state regulation or policy, OCFS issues findings and monitors the implementation of the corrective action plan required of the LDSS. OCFS also reviews and issues fatality reports for children who die while in foster care, or while they are receiving preventive services, regardless of abuse or neglect allegations.

OCFS posts fatality reports (names and identifying information is withheld on all reports) when it is determined that disclosure would not harm the child’s surviving siblings or other children in the household. The OCFS Commissioner considers whether publishing a fatality report is contrary to the best interests of a child’s siblings or other children in the household, what effects publication may have on the privacy of children and family, and any potentially detrimental effects publication may have on reuniting and providing services to a family. This process is referred to as a “best interest determination” and is conducted by OCFS and, in certain instances, with the assistance of experts serving on the OCFS Statewide Child Fatality Review Team. This team is comprised of state and local professionals working together to research the causes of preventable child deaths and develops strategies to prevent them. OCFS also certifies 18 regional and local child fatality review teams.

The reports posted here are not the actual investigations conducted by the local departments of social services; they are OCFS’s review of the actual investigation and meet the standards for public release.

See the OCFS Prevention and Child Safety pages for information on keeping children safe.