DCFS Fatality Categories

These charts provide information regarding the DCFS fatality categories for all of the child fatalities that were reported to the Los Angeles County Child Protection Hotline*, that met WIC §10850.4 (a) and (b) criteria, were determined to be the result of parental/caregiver abuse and/or neglect, and had DCFS history.

DCFS Fatality Categories is an unofficial internal category, sometimes independent of a Coroner’s determination, intended to capture the circumstances leading to a child fatality, which helps DCFS in identifying trends, based on information available at the time of review.

The data reflects determinations made as of December 31, 2023.

*This data does not include the fatalities reported to the CPH when the deceased child had an open case or referral in another County at the time of death.


2022 DCFS Fatality Categories

Child Protection Hotline

24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Toll Free within California

(800) 540-4000

Outside of California

(213) 639-4500

TDD - Hearing Imparied

(800) 272-6699