Appendix 2471: Prior Disposition Categories
CPS November 2013
Disposition Categories in Use Before September 1, 1990
At the end of investigations completed before September 1, 1990, staff used the dispositions defined below to specify their conclusions about the occurrence of abuse or neglect. The old disposition categories are presented here to help staff interpret records of investigations completed before September 1, 1990.
• Adjudicated:
Civil or criminal court decisions, other than emergency ex parte orders, confirm the occurrence of abuse or neglect.
• Reason to Believe:
Based on some credible evidence, staff conclude that abuse or neglect has occurred.
• Unfounded:
The investigation:
• clearly rules out abuse or neglect;
• warrants a reasonable conclusion that no abuse or neglect has occurred;
• has uncovered insufficient reliable information to conclude that abuse or neglect has occurred; or
• has uncovered insufficient evidence to corroborate an anonymous report.
CPS may not conclude that an allegation is unfounded on the sole basis of only one of the following conditions:
• An alleged victim’s explanation of the situation
• A child’s retraction after previously confirming a report of abuse or neglect, when the child appears to have been pressured to retract
• The examination of an alleged victim who cannot communicate
• A parent’s or an alleged perpetrator’s explanation of the situation
• The investigation’s failure to identify an alleged perpetrator
• Moved:
Before CPS could draw a conclusion, the persons involved in the report moved and could not be located.
Definition of Reason to Believe Disposition Category in Use Before April 1, 1999
Before April 1, 1999, staff used the following definition of the Reason to Believe” disposition category:
Reason to Believe: Based on some credible evidence, staff conclude that abuse or neglect has occurred.
After April 1, 1999, staff use preponderance of evidence as the standard of proof for dispositions of Reason to Believe. See DFPS Rules, 40 TAC §700.511, Disposition of the Allegations of Abuse or Neglect.