Wicomico County Department of Social Services v. B.A.

McDonald, j.

Under the State’s Child Abuse and Neglect Law, local departments of social services are charged, along with law enforcement, with investigating allegations of child abuse. At the conclusion of an investigation, the department is to determine whether child abuse is “indicated,” “ruled out,” or “unsubstantiated.” The department may make a finding of indicated child sexual abuse if, among other things, an individual commits an act of sexual exploitation or molestation against the child while the individual has “temporary care or custody or responsibility for the supervision of the…