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Mandatory Child Abuse Reporting Laws: Issues and Implications for Policy
Author(s) -
KALICHMAN SETH C.,
BROSIG CHERYL L.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
law and policy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.534
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1467-9930
pISSN - 0265-8240
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-9930.1992.tb00080.x
Subject(s) - statute , neglect , child abuse , law , state (computer science) , criminology , psychology , political science , suicide prevention , poison control , medicine , medical emergency , psychiatry , algorithm , computer science
Child maltreatment has been deemed a national emergency, with more than 2.5 million cases of abuse and neglect reported each year. Social policies designed to address child maltreatment include state statutes requiring professionals to report suspected child maltreatment to authorities. Mandatory reporting laws, while of potential benefit in the identification of abused and neglected children, can often result in higher or lower rates of reporting of abuse. The present paper reviews the functions of mandatory reporting statutes in professional contexts. Factors related to both low and high rates of reporting are discussed. In addition, suggestions for social policy are reviewed.