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- Main Office
One Hogan Place
New York, NY 10013
212-335-9000 - Click for More Contact Info
Information for Witnesses and Victims of Child Abuse
If you know or have reasonable suspicion that a child is being abused or neglected, call the state Central Registry at 1-800-342-3720. In case of emergency, call 911 immediately.
If you call the State Central Registry, the city Administration for Children's Services (ACS) may assign a case worker to investigate. In certain cases of physical or sexual abuse, the case will also be forwarded to the District Attorney's Office and the Police Department's Manhattan Special Victims Squad (MSVS). Very often, the ADA assigned to the case will conduct joint interviews along with MSVS and ACS.
If the Police Department makes an arrest, the defendant will be prosecuted in Criminal Court. If the abuser is related to the child, ACS may file a simultaneous petition in Family Court. The proceeding in Family Court is a civil proceeding and does not involve criminal sanctions. A law guardian represents the child in Family Court.
In addition, the Office's Witness Aid Services Unit offers a variety of services to Child Abuse victims:
- The Victim/Witness Reception Center provides logistical assistance and services to victims and informs them about court procedures, helping victims take an active role in the legal process.
- The Social Services Department assesses the needs of crime victims, witnesses, and their families, and offers a wide variety of specialized social services and advocacy for victims.
- The Counseling Department provides individual therapeutic counseling to victims, witnesses, and their families.
- The Notification Division contacts victims on Criminal Court cases in order to provide assistance with the completion of important court documents.
- The Property Release Division explains procedures involved in releasing property and assists victims in obtaining a District Attorney's Release for property held as evidence by the Police Department.