DON’T HESITATE ACT

Here is an example of a U.S. State Law for Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse:

“When a practitioner, county coroner, medical examiner, law enforcement officer, professional school personnel, registered or licensed nurse, social service counsellor, social worker, psychologist, pharmacist, licensed or certified child care providers or their employees, juvenile probation officer…has reasonable cause to believe a child has suffered abuse or neglect, he or she shall report such incident, or cause a report to be made, to the proper law enforcement agency or…to other relevant state authorities, or to the department of social services…”

The Report Must Be Made:

1. At first opportunity

2. Less than 48 hours after there is reasonable cause to believe
that the child has suffered abuse or neglect

The Report Must Include:

1. The name, address, age of child

2. The name and address of the child’s parents, stepparents,
guardians, or other persons having custody of the child

3. The nature and extent of the alleged injury of injuries

4. The nature and extent of the alleged neglect

5. The nature and extent of the alleged sexual abuse

6. Evidence of previous injuries, including nature and extent

7. Any and all information helpful in establishing the cause of the child’s death, injury of injuries and the identity of the alleged perpetrator or perpetrators