2-11-2008 Kansas:
It's pretty easy to find information about people on the Internet. Mother Brenda Guardado agrees. She says she's particular about who watches her two daughters.
"I don't trust anyone to take care of my kids unless I know who they are," she says. "You can find out about [anyone]. If you don't know about [them], you can find it on the internet."
There are public websites to find where someone has lived, websites with work history, and of course, the sexual offender registry. Then there's the state's Central Registry for Child Abuse and Neglect.
Federal Law-CAPTA (Page 14)
Kansas Law 38-2209
Kansas Law 38-2212
SRS Central Registry for Abuse and Neglect
It has more than 28,000 names of people the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services says pose a danger to children.
Visit the site and don't expect to find out much more than what I've told you.
"State law requires our agency to keep that information confidential to protect the children," says SRS Director of Children and Family Services Tanya Keys. She sited state and federal laws requiring SRS records to remain private.
Here's how the registry works:
SRS conducts its own investigation on abuse or neglect, separate from police investigations.
"If it's neglect, lack of supervision, physical abuse, we look at that information and we look to see if there's clear and convincing evidence that this person committed this act," says Keys.
If there is enough proof, the perpetrator's name goes in the registry, a list kept only by SRS.
Once they're on the list, these people can't work or volunteer at any state agency that works with kids.
For ten dollars you can request to find out if someone's name is on the list, but you have to have that person's permission.
Even if they give it to you, the only thing SRS can say is yes they're on the list, or no they're not.
As a mother, Guardado says that's not enough. She says parents have a right to know more.
She wants public access, just like the state's sex offender registry. "It shouldn't be a secret. It shouldn't be private. Once you commit a crime such as abuse. Any type of abuse it should be made public," says Guardado.
"I don't understand why it would protect the kids not to let the public know. They're already the victims." SRS says unless the law changes, that's the way the rules remain.
Guardado says knowing there are dangerous people on a list out there, and not knowing who they are, is a reminder that parents can never be too trusting.
To find out how the Central Registry works, and the laws regulating it, click on the links at the top left of this page.
Here are some other facts about the Central Registry:
The Kansas Central Registry for Abuse and Neglect was created in 1988.
Anyone 11 years or older can be on the list.
Once someone is placed on the list, they can ask to have their name removed after three years.
During the 2007 fiscal year, 35,185 requests to check names on the registry were made.
Most of the requests are from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, who govern child care centers.
In order to check a name on the list, an individual or group must pay a $10 fee. In fiscal year 2007, Kansas received more than $345,000 in fees.
..more.. by Linda Mares
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