INDIANAPOLIS – Judges and sheriffs from around Indiana say a state agency’s decision to route all calls to its child abuse hotline through a central intake center in Indianapolis has been plagued with problems, including critical delays in response.

The Indianapolis Star reports (http://indy.st/ORvhwk) that sheriffs and judges who responded to an informal survey by Republican Sen. Brent Steele of Bedford say the centralized child abuse hotline that replaced calls to county-level offices has been a “constant problem,” “very frustrating” and “inefficient.”

State Department of Child Services chief of staff John Ryan said the agency is aware of the issues raised in Steele’s survey and has started a pilot program to address some of those concerns.

A legislative study committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday to discuss the hotline and other issues.