In re R.A. CA3

BACKGROUND

On October 26, 2021, the Sacramento County Department of Child, Family and Adult Services (Department) filed a section 300 petition on behalf of the (then) two-year- old minor alleging the minor was at substantial risk of harm due to mother’s untreated substance abuse; he was detained and placed in foster care. At the time of the minor’s detention, father was incarcerated. He reported to the Department that he had been incarcerated for “ ‘around four months.’ ” On December 2, 2021, the Department filed its jurisdiction/disposition report. As relevant here, the report set forth father’s criminal record, which extended from 1982 and included a 1983 conviction for sexual battery (Pen. Code, § 243.4), as well as 10 convictions for failing to register as a sex offender (id., § 290). The report noted the Department had requested but not yet obtained a certified record for the 1983 conviction. The Department had tried to locate father on the Megan’s Law sex offender registry but could not. The Department opined there would be “substantial danger to the physical health, safety, and protection or emotional well-being of the” minor if father were given custody. In support of…