Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect

This publication discusses State laws that designate the groups of professionals required to report cases of suspected child abuse and neglect. It also addresses training requirements for mandatory reporters, reporting by other persons, the responsibilities of institutions in making reports, standards for making a report, privileged communications, and confidentiality of the reporter's identity. This publication presents a general overview of this aspect of child welfare law. Summaries of laws on this topic for all individual States and U.S. territories are available from the State Statutes Search page.

This publication is a product of the State Statutes Series prepared by Child Welfare Information Gateway. While every attempt has been made to be as complete as possible, additional information on these topics may be in other sections of a State's code as well as agency regulations, case law, and informal practices and procedures.

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway.