In re Williams

The day after the Children’s Division of the Missouri Department of Social Services (Division) began an investigation into allegations of child abuse by Taryn Williams, the Division stated that its investigation would be delayed beyond the thirty-day limit set forth by statute, noting that it had “good cause” to do so. Approximately 133 days after beginning its investigation, the Division notified Williams that it substantiated the report of abuse. The Child Abuse and Neglect Review Board upheld the Division’s decision. The trial court concluded that the Division had no good cause to extend its investigation beyond the initial thirty-day period and ordered the Division not to include Williams’ name on the central registry of child abuse and neglect perpetrators. The Supreme Court vacated the trial court’s judgment based on the same reasoning in Frye v. Department of Social Services, handed down this same day, holding that the trial did not have the authority to review the Division’s good cause determination. View "In re Williams" on Justia Law