hree Areas of Abuse in Which Reporting Must Occur

There are three main areas of abuse in which reporting must occur:

• Child abuse and neglect
• Elder abuse and neglect
• Domestic violence

Child abuse and neglect is any act or omission that endangers or impairs a child’s physical or emotional health or development. It can include physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect.

Physical abuse is any injury inflicted on a child by a parent or caregiver. It can include hitting, slapping, burning, biting, or choking.

Sexual abuse is any sexual activity with or without the child’s consent, or any sexual touching of the child by a parent or caregiver.

Emotional abuse is any behavior that harms a child’s self-esteem or psychological development. It can include yelling, belittling, threatening, or isolating the child.

Neglect is the failure to provide a child with the basic necessities for life, such as food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or education.

Elder abuse and neglect is any physical, emotional, or financial harm inflicted on an elderly person by a caregiver. It can include physical abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, and emotional abuse.

Domestic violence is any act of violence or intimidation committed by one partner against another in a romantic or intimate relationship. It can include physical violence, sexual violence, emotional abuse, and economic abuse.

Criteria for When Reporting is Mandatory

The criteria for when reporting is mandatory vary from state to state. However, there are some general guidelines.

Child abuse and neglect

Most states have mandatory reporting laws for child abuse and neglect. This means that certain professionals, such as teachers, doctors, and social workers, are required by law to report any suspected child abuse or neglect to the authorities.

To report child abuse or neglect, you must have a reasonable belief that abuse or neglect has occurred or is occurring. This means that you must have more than just a hunch or a suspicion. You must have some evidence to support your belief.

Elder abuse and neglect

Many states also have mandatory reporting laws for elder abuse and neglect. The criteria for reporting elder abuse and neglect are similar to the criteria for reporting child abuse and neglect. You must have a reasonable belief that abuse or neglect has occurred or is occurring.

Domestic violence

Some states have mandatory reporting laws for domestic violence. However, even if your state does not have a mandatory reporting law, you may still want to report domestic violence to the authorities. This can help to protect the victim and prevent further violence.

How to Report Abuse

If you suspect that abuse is occurring, you should report it to the authorities immediately. You can report abuse to your local child protective services agency, adult protective services agency, or police department.

You can also report abuse anonymously. In most states, you can call a toll-free hotline to report abuse.

What Happens After You Report Abuse

Once you have reported abuse, the authorities will investigate the report. If they find evidence of abuse, they may take steps to protect the victim and prevent further abuse. This may include removing the victim from a dangerous situation, providing counseling or other support services, or filing criminal charges against the abuser.

Conclusion

Reporting abuse is an important responsibility. It can help to protect the victim and prevent further abuse. If you suspect that abuse is occurring, please report it to the authorities immediately.

Additional Information

Here is some additional information about reporting abuse in each of the three areas discussed above:

Child abuse and neglect

The National Child Abuse Hotline is 1-800-422-4453. You can also report child abuse or neglect online at Childhelp USA: https://www.childhelphotline.org/.

Elder abuse and neglect

The National Elder Abuse Hotline is 1-800-677-1116. You can also report elder abuse or neglect online at The National Center on Elder Abuse: https://www.hhs.gov/answers/programs-for-families-and-children/how-do-i-report-elder-abuse/index.html.

Domestic violence

The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE. You can also report domestic violence online at The National Domestic Violence Hotline: https://www.thehotline.org/get-help/.

If you are in immediate danger, please call 911.