Commissioned reporters in the US are required by law to report suspected child abuse and neglect. They include professionals who work with children and must submit more extensive documents when reporting. Child abuse includes physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, as well as neglect. Suspicious signs should be reported to the state, and immunity is offered for good faith reporting. The state’s Child Protective Services will investigate and make a decision in the case. Commissioned reporters are part of a larger system designed to protect and care for children.
In the United States, commissioned reporters are individuals required by law to report suspected child abuse and neglect. In general, any person who has contact with children in a professional capacity is a mandatory reporter, although laws vary from state to state. Mandatory journalist laws are designed to catch child abuse in its early stages so children are not harmed in the long run.
Any individual can file a report of suspected child abuse with the state, which will send Child Protective Services to investigate the report. Commissioned reporters must submit more extensive documents when reporting suspected abuse and cannot be anonymous. Most states mandate that teachers, medical professionals, peace officers, firefighters, psychologists, counselors, clergy, film processors, and probation officers be commissioned reporters. Other professions may be listed as commissioned reporters on a state basis. Volunteers are exempt from mandatory reporter laws in many states, although they may feel obligated to report suspected cases of child abuse.
Child abuse includes physical, sexual and emotional abuse along with neglect. Physical abuse is defined as a non-accidental injury. Neglect is a circumstance where a child is not properly cared for, posing a potential threat to his health and her well-being. Sexual abuse is sexual activity between children and older children or adults. Emotional abuse includes the emotional abuse of a child. All of these types of abuse are physically and emotionally harmful, especially if they occur over extended periods of time.
Commissioned reporters who suspect any type of abuse is taking place should report it to the state. Suspicious signs include bruises, lacerations, physical or emotional trauma, emotional unpredictability, and evidence of improper care. If a minor discloses a situation of abuse to the appointed journalists, they should report the disclosure. Most states offer immunity for good faith reporting, which means individuals cannot be prosecuted if an investigation does not confirm child abuse. Most states also have false reporting laws, although they are rarely prosecuted.
If an individual is a compelled reporter and has reason to believe that a child with whom they have contact has been abused, an oral complaint must be filed as quickly as possible. In most cases, a written report with full information should follow within 48 hours. Using the information in these reports, the state’s Child Protective Services will investigate the request and make a decision in the case, which may include taking protective custody of the child involved.
Commissioned reporters are part of a larger system designed to protect and care for children. Laws on mandated journalists vary around the world, with some nations having few laws to protect children from abuse. With the efforts of the United Nations, more and more countries are instituting mandatory laws for journalists.
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