Arkansas child-protection agencies screened out child-rape reports and broke the rules on nearly every abuse investigation federal auditors checked.
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What happened
An HHS Office of Inspector General audit (OAS-25-06-038, September 2026) of Arkansas child abuse hotline reports from October 2023 through September 2024 found 10 of 70 sampled screened-out reports had been inappropriately screened out, including allegations of child rape and of children being watched by bedroom cameras while undressing; OIG estimated 3,956 of 27,690 screened-out reports were mishandled. In 138 of 140 sampled accepted reports, the Department of Human Services' Division of Children & Family Services and the State Police Crimes Against Children Division failed one or more requirements — an estimated 99 percent of 21,268 reports — including not notifying law enforcement of severe-maltreatment findings and not documenting required parent interviews. Arkansas concurred with three of six recommendations and partially concurred with the other three.
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