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To report child abuse, contact local law enforcement or child protection agencies, but guidelines may vary. In the US, reporting to parents or guardians does not meet legal requirements. Reporting in good faith protects from legal action, but anonymity is not guaranteed. Failure to report can result in legal consequences. Some professions are required to report suspected abuse. Exceptions include attorneys who are told of abuse by a client.
While the exact way you are required to report child abuse may vary from country to country and even from state or province to another, you can usually make a report by contacting your local law enforcement agency or child protection. While you may wish to report anonymously, in many areas you are not granted this wish. However, you are likely to be protected from civil or criminal charges when you make such a report in good faith, even if the report turns out to be incorrect. In many areas, you may be required by law to report child abuse if you have a good reason to suspect such abuse.
To report child abuse, you can simply call or otherwise notify a local police agency or child protective service in your area about the suspected or witnessed abuse. This is a general rule, however, and local laws in your area may set different guidelines. Whenever possible, you should consult a local law enforcement agency or attorney for specific legal advice in your area on how to report child abuse.
If you live in the United States, most state and federal laws require you to report child abuse to law enforcement or government child protection agencies. Reporting suspected abuse to a parent or guardian of a minor typically does not meet the legal requirements for reporting abuse. This is because the parents or guardians you talk to may be responsible or complicit in the abuse.
As long as you report child abuse in good faith, meaning that you genuinely believe there is abuse, you are generally protected from criminal or civil action as a result of your report. Laws in most areas protect you from a lawsuit, for example, for defamation of character if you report abuse that it turns out didn’t occur. However, you generally cannot remain anonymous when reporting child abuse, so you should not expect anonymity after making such a report.
On the other hand, you are not afforded legal protection after failing to report child abuse when such abuse occurs. Many states and countries have laws requiring those in positions of authority, such as teachers, doctors, and clergy, to report any suspected cases of abuse. Some areas require that any adult who suspects child abuse must report that suspicion to a law enforcement agency or the Child Protective Service. One of the few exceptions to such mandatory reporting in the United States is an attorney who is told of abuse by a client he represents, as this would violate the client’s legal right to provide advice.
