US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

34 U.S.C. § 40101

Reporting child abuse crime information

(a)

In general

In each State, an authorized criminal justice agency of the State shall report child abuse crime information to, or index child abuse crime information in, the national criminal history background check system. A criminal justice agency may satisfy the requirement of this subsection by reporting or indexing all felony and serious misdemeanor arrests and dispositions.

(b)

Provision of State child abuse crime records through national criminal history background check system

(1)
Not later than 180 days after , the Attorney General shall, subject to availability of appropriations—
(A)
investigate the criminal history records system of each State and determine for each State a timetable by which the State should be able to provide child abuse crime records on an on-line basis through the national criminal history background check system;
(B)
in consultation with State officials, establish guidelines for the reporting or indexing of child abuse crime information, including guidelines relating to the format, content, and accuracy of criminal history records and other procedures for carrying out this chapter; and
(C)
notify each State of the determinations made pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B).
(2)
The Attorney General shall require as a part of each State timetable that the State—
(A)
by not later than the date that is 5 years after , have in a computerized criminal history file at least 80 percent of the final dispositions that have been rendered in all identifiable child abuse crime cases in which there has been an event of activity within the last 5 years;
(B)
continue to maintain a reporting rate of at least 80 percent for final dispositions in all identifiable child abuse crime cases in which there has been an event of activity within the preceding 5 years; and
(C)
take steps to achieve 100 percent disposition reporting, including data quality audits and periodic notices to criminal justice agencies identifying records that lack final dispositions and requesting those dispositions.
(c)

Liaison

An authorized agency of a State shall maintain close liaison with the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the National Center for the Prosecution of Child Abuse for the exchange of technical assistance in cases of child abuse.

(d)

Annual summary

(1)
The Attorney General shall publish an annual statistical summary of child abuse crimes.
(2)
The annual statistical summary described in paragraph (1) shall not contain any information that may reveal the identity of any particular victim or alleged violator.
(e)

Annual report

The Attorney General shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, publish an annual summary of each State’s progress in reporting child abuse crime information to the national criminal history background check system.

(f)

Study of child abuse offenders

(1)
Not later than 180 days after , the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention shall begin a study based on a statistically significant sample of convicted child abuse offenders and other relevant information to determine—
(A)
the percentage of convicted child abuse offenders who have more than 1 conviction for an offense involving child abuse;
(B)
the percentage of convicted child abuse offenders who have been convicted of an offense involving child abuse in more than 1 State; and
(C)
the extent to which and the manner in which instances of child abuse form a basis for convictions for crimes other than child abuse crimes.
(2)
Not later than 2 years after , the Administrator shall submit a report to the Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives containing a description of and a summary of the results of the study conducted pursuant to paragraph (1).

Pub. L. 103–209, § 2107 Stat. 2490Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXII, § 320928(b)108 Stat. 2132(, , ; , (h), (i), , , 2133.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

section 5119 of Title 42Section was formerly classified to , The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

Amendments

Pub. L. 103–322, § 320928(b)1994—Subsec. (a). , inserted at end “A criminal justice agency may satisfy the requirement of this subsection by reporting or indexing all felony and serious misdemeanor arrests and dispositions.”

Pub. L. 103–322, § 320928(i)Subsec. (b)(2)(A). , substituted “5 years after” for “3 years after”.

Pub. L. 103–322, § 320928(h)Subsec. (f)(2). , substituted “2 years” for “1 year”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Guidelines for Adoption of Safeguards by Care Providers and States for Protecting Children, the Elderly, or Individuals With Disabilities From Abuse

Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXII, § 320928(g)108 Stat. 2132

“(1)

In general .—

The Attorney General, in consultation with Federal, State, and local officials, including officials responsible for criminal history record systems, and representatives of public and private care organizations and health, legal, and social welfare organizations, shall develop guidelines for the adoption of appropriate safeguards by care providers and by States for protecting children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities from abuse.
“(2)

Matters to be addressed .—

In developing guidelines under paragraph (1), the Attorney General shall address the availability, cost, timeliness, and effectiveness of criminal history background checks and recommend measures to ensure that fees for background checks do not discourage volunteers from participating in care programs.
“(3)

Dissemination .—

The Attorney General shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, disseminate the guidelines to State and local officials and to public and private care providers.”
, , , provided that: