Search

Child abuse tips silenced for months by DCF computer glitch

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco addresses the media in December. Speaking this week about a state software glitch that delayed release of child abuse tips to law enforcement, he said his agency does not yet know the impact to Pasco children. "As all law enforcement agencies know, a delay like this is never a good thing," he said.  [ANDRES LEIVA   |   Times]


Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco addresses the media in December. Speaking this week about a state software glitch that delayed release of child abuse tips to law enforcement, he said his agency does not yet know the impact to Pasco children. “As all law enforcement agencies know, a delay like this is never a good thing,” he said. [ANDRES LEIVA | Times]
Hundreds of reports about potential child abuse may have been overlooked for months because of a Florida Department of Children and Families computer glitch.

About 1,500 tips to the Florida Abuse Hotline ­— the state’s front line for child protection — were not sent electronically to law enforcement agencies between February and April because of a software problem, DCF officials said. That included roughly 230 cases in the Tampa Bay region.

Reports of abuse or neglect by parents, which are handled by child welfare investigators, were not affected. But tips on abuse by others, including neighbors, teachers or strangers, stalled in the DCF’s computers.

Some of those cases may still have been investigated, DCF officials said. Even though the software failed, abuse hotline operators were still able to transfer calls to 911.

But local law enforcement agencies received notice of some reports only when the backlog was resolved on May 3. In some cases, agencies are still wading through them to determine if an investigation is warranted.

“As all law enforcement agencies know, a delay like this is never a good thing,” said Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco. “We will not know the impact to Pasco children until a thorough review of all the cases is complete, and that review is ongoing.”

DCF officials said at least half of the electronically delayed reports reflected a special situation, such as an absent parent or child-on-child sexual abuse. Those calls were relayed to the same child welfare investigators who review complaints against parents.

The glitch was caused by a software update made on Feb. 4 to the system used by hotline operators. It was not detected until April 28.

After the problem was fixed, the backlog of reports was sent to local sheriff’s offices across Florida on May 3.

“The department is working with the software vendor to implement an alert system to notify the department anytime a backlog is created in the future,” said DCF spokeswoman Jessica Sims in a statement. “The department is continuing to work with our partners in law enforcement to appropriately investigate these allegations and we remain committed to ensuring the safety of all children and vulnerable adults in Florida.”

The 1,500 reports included 113 from Hillsborough County, about 70 from Pinellas County and 32 in Pasco, according to the DCF.

Pasco officials disputed that number, saying they had received more than 100 delayed reports.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said most of the backlogged calls his office received were forwarded to police departments in St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Largo.

Of 22 reports in unincorporated Pinellas, only two were new cases, he said.

“Any time anything like that happens it gives you some concern,” he said. “With all the technology we have, sometimes systems do have issues.”

The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office responded to 65 delayed reports, said spokesman Larry McKinnon.

“Our goal is always to get the information as quickly as possible so we can respond as quickly as we can,” he said. “We’re glad they were able to get the system fixed.

Contact Christopher O’Donnell at codonnell@tampabay.com or (813) 226-3446. Follow @codonnell_Times.

Child abuse tips silenced for months by DCF computer glitch 05/10/17 [Last modified: Wednesday, May 10, 2017 6:11am]
Photo reprints | Article reprints

© 2017 Tampa Bay Times

Share this article:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
WhatsApp

Related Posts

Alexia Nechayev

FYS Events & Meeting Chair
(Palm Beach)

Hello, My name is Alexia Nechayev. I am 25 years old and I am an alumna of Florida International University where I received my B.A. in Psychology. My future career goal is to be a Lawyer. I was in care for about one year from age 17 to 18. Prior to entering care, I only knew about the negative stigma regarding foster care and while in care that narrative was unfortunately my experience.

In school I felt like I was on display because my status in care was broadcast to other students and in my placement behavior was leveraged for “privileges” that should be a natural right of all children. Because I did not know my rights I did not know that what I was experiencing was wrong. Today this is exactly why I advocate, because I don’t want this to be the same for other youth who are experiencing foster care.

This is my second year on the FYS Statewide Board and I’m happy to be the Events and Meetings Chair this year because my main goal through advocacy is to reach as many people as possible. My favorite thing as a board member is to see how comfortable members become while working together. The community needs to know that youth in foster care are real people, going through some of the hardest moments of their life and youth need to know that their voice is powerful. I believe that we have to speak up and bring these issues to people’s attention so that they do not forget us. Advocacy, education and consistency is the only way.

Skip to content