{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-4-1301.51","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 4-1301.51","heading":"Mandatory investigation of child abuse and neglect cases by multidisciplinary team.","body":"(a)\nEvery instance of sexual abuse of a child shall be reviewed and investigated by a multidisciplinary investigation team (“MDT”), which shall focus, first, on the needs of the child, and, second, on the law enforcement, prosecution, and related civil proceedings. The MDT may handle other instances of child abuse and neglect as identified in the protocol provided in subsection (b) of this section.\n(1)\nA MDT shall consist of one or more representatives of the:\n(A)\nMetropolitan Police Department;\n(B)\nChild and Family Services Agency; and\n(C)\nOffice of the Corporation Counsel.\n(2)\nThe Office of the United States Attorney and the Children’s Advocacy Center shall be requested to designate one or more representatives to serve on a MDT, and those designated representatives shall be included on the MDT.\n(3)\nA MDT may also include:\n(A)\nA representative of the District of Columbia Public Schools;\n(B)\nLicensed mental health practitioners;\n(C)\nMedical personnel;\n(D)\nChild development specialists;\n(E)\nVictim counselors; and\n(F)\nExperts in the assessment and treatment of substance abuse.\n\n(b)\nThe MDT shall adopt a written child abuse protocol to ensure coordination and cooperation among all agencies investigating and prosecuting cases arising from alleged child abuse or neglect to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the agencies handling the cases and to facilitate the provision of services to children and families. The protocol shall:\n(1)\nDefine additional categories of abuse and neglect cases, in addition to sexual abuse, which will be handled by the MDT;\n(2)\nOutline in detail the procedures to be used in investigating and prosecuting cases arising from alleged child abuse or neglect; and\n(3)\nOutline in detail the methods to be used in coordinating treatment programs and other services to the child, the family, and the perpetrator.\n\n(c)\nRepealed.","path":["Title 4. Public Care Systems.","Chapter 13. Child Abuse and Neglect.","Subchapter I. Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect.","Part A-i. Multidisciplinary Investigation Team; Confidentiality."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/4-1301.51","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"ea11d8e5a5135c73e1a48a12a5fef73fa597f5fc98a95c2fec02d63e4c9f4ddb","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-4-1301.09a","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-4-1301.52"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}