REPORTING ABUSE AS A PROFESSIONAL

We hope to give you an idea of the process to report suspected or known abuse of others. The process of reporting can be a big mystery to some, and can cause apprehension when submitting a report. We hope to take some of the mystery out of that.

Note: mandated reporters are legally required to report actual or suspected abuse, but anyone can report abuse.

REPORTING ABUSE

The first step in reporting abuse is to call your local law enforcement agency or mandated reporting agency or telephone hotline for your state as soon as possible. Some states have mandatory time limits that reporters must report within. The process and procedures for reporting varies based on what type of abuse you are reporting and the state and jurisdiction the abuse occurs within. See below for more information.

reporting Abuse of a Child
Reporting abuse of elderly or disabled
reporting Abuse of an athlete

Note: you can remain anonymous throughout this process if you choose to.

Mandated Reporters

When reporting suspected or known abuse or a child, an elder, or a disabled person, there are certain people within each state that are required to do so no matter what. These people are called “mandatory reporters” or “mandated reporters.” Some of the most common mandatory reporters include:

  • Social Services Agencies
  • Law Enforcement Personnel
  • Emergency Response Providers
  • Healthcare, Medical or Dental Service Providers
  • Clergy
  • Teachers

Each state has its own laws that differ if you are reporting abuse of children or the abuse of the elderly or disabled. If the perpetrator of assault or abuse of any adult has access to children, or lives with children, it may also be required that you report the abuse.  

For more information, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network has compiled the following resources:

Mandatory reporters of child abuse
Mandatory reporters of elderly or disabled

Note: you can remain anonymous throughout this process if you choose to.

after the report

The reporting process may be hard for some and can even bring up memories of past trauma. As you go through the process, make sure you are practicing self care, and seek a professional mental health expert if needed.

We are not lawyers, the information on this website does not constitute legal advice, and the information on this website in no way creates an attorney-client relationship between The Army of Survivors, its employees, Board Members, or other affiliates. We encourage you to contact a lawyer to discuss your complaint or potential lawsuit.