Connecticut Lawmakers Consider Requiring Face-to-Face DCF Visits

Proposed legislation would mandate in-person checks on children during abuse investigations

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Following two high-profile child abuse cases in Connecticut, some state lawmakers are considering passing a law that would require child welfare workers to conduct in-person visits with children during investigations, rather than relying on video calls. A former DCF employee said the agency's longstanding policy has been to do these welfare checks in person, but that protocol was not followed in the case of Mimi Torres-Garcia, whose body was found in New Britain last October after a video call where a woman impersonated her. Members of the legislature's Children's Committee say they are open to codifying face-to-face visits into law to better protect children.

Why it matters

The proposed legislation aims to close a loophole that allowed a tragic oversight in the Torres-Garcia case, where a DCF worker was fooled by a video call. Requiring in-person visits could help ensure the safety and wellbeing of children during abuse investigations, though some lawmakers want to understand the current protocols before making changes.

The details

In the Torres-Garcia case, a review found that a DCF social worker conducted a video call with a woman in her 20s who was able to convince the worker that she was Mimi. This led to a delay in discovering the girl's death. A former DCF employee said the agency's longstanding policy has been to conduct these welfare checks in person, but that protocol was not followed in this instance because Mimi's mother reported she was out of state.

  • In October 2025, the body of Mimi Torres-Garcia was found in New Britain.
  • In February 2026, NBC Connecticut Investigates spoke with a former DCF employee about the case.

The players

Mimi Torres-Garcia

A girl whose body was found in New Britain in October 2025 after a DCF social worker was fooled by a video call with a woman impersonating her.

Rep. Jason Perillo

The ranking member of the Connecticut legislature's Children's Committee, who said they would consider passing a law to require face-to-face visits during DCF investigations.

Rep. Corey Paris

The co-chair of the Connecticut legislature's Children's Committee, who said he agrees that face-to-face contact should be required and that it is a bipartisan issue.

Sen. Ceci Maher

The co-chair of the Connecticut legislature's Children's Committee, who said there needs to be a "holistic view" of what each case requires.

Rep. Anne Dauphinais

The ranking member of the Connecticut legislature's Children's Committee, who said she wants to understand the current protocols before considering changes.

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What they’re saying

“If we have to pass a law to make that happen, we can do it.”

— Rep. Jason Perillo, Ranking member, Connecticut legislature's Children's Committee (NBC Connecticut Investigates)

“I do agree with that. I think there are many members of my party and of course the Republican party this is a bipartisan issue. We just wanna protect our kids.”

— Rep. Corey Paris, Co-chair, Connecticut legislature's Children's Committee (NBC Connecticut Investigates)

“There are components that are greater than the sum of the parts. There needs to be the holistic view of looking at what does this case need? And in this particular instance, this case needed eyes on a child.”

— Sen. Ceci Maher, Co-chair, Connecticut legislature's Children's Committee (NBC Connecticut Investigates)

“I would want to, first of all understand and know the facts of what the current protocol is, and then listen to testimony about the benefits of doing a one-on-one face-to-face with anybody living in that household, versus not.”

— Rep. Anne Dauphinais, Ranking member, Connecticut legislature's Children's Committee (NBC Connecticut Investigates)

What’s next

If the Children's Committee were to put language into law requiring DCF face-to-face visits with children during investigations, it would likely be a part of a larger bill it presents during this legislative session.

The takeaway

The proposed legislation aims to prevent tragedies like the Torres-Garcia case by ensuring child welfare workers physically see children during abuse investigations, rather than relying on video calls that can be manipulated. However, some lawmakers want to fully understand the current protocols before making changes to the law.