what is the number to report child abuse in georgia

New Georgia Police Requires More than People to Written report Suspected Child Abuse

A month agone, new rules went into effect in Georgia expanding the categories of individuals who are required to reported suspected child abuse or confront criminal liability. The new law was largely a reaction to the Jerry Sandusky sex crime scandal involving Penn State Academy.

Although all Georgians are encouraged to contact constabulary enforcement if they accept reason to believe that a child has been abused, the new law identifies professionals and volunteer workers in a wide variety of settings and at present compels them to do and so. Those whose failure to written report suspected child corruption who are discovered may exist found guilty of a misdemeanor and face up potential incarceration and other penalties.

Who are Mandatory Reporters?

Before July 1st, more often than not only trained professionals—primarily medical, social, and childcare workers—were "mandatory reporters" subject to criminal penalties for failure to report abuse. Under the new law, this list expands to include physicians, nurses, and other medical workers; dentists; psychologists, counselors, and therapists; teachers, guidance counselors, schoolhouse administrators, and most other school workers and volunteers; members of the clergy; law enforcement personnel; and kid service organization personnel.

The new mandatory reporting requirements are not limited to those who are employed in sure positions. Even those who are just volunteering in schools, hospitals, or other facilities where children are commonly found are probable covered by the new constabulary. In upshot, mandatory reporter status can be applied to anyone who ever has whatever significant contact with children.

The Consequences of Failing to Report Child Abuse

Mandatory reporters will be held criminally liable if they knowingly and willfully neglect to study suspected child abuse.  The penalization is up to a twelvemonth in jail and a $1,000 fine.

An Overly Wide Law?

The new law does not crave that an private have been told that he or she is a mandatory reporter. Ignorance of the law volition be no excuse in a prosecution for failure to report.  Considering fifty-fifty volunteers, aides, interns, and other temporary workers are now mandatory reporters, it seems likely that many will non know of their status and the duties the law imposes on them.

When and How Must Mandatory Reporters Contact Regime?

Mandatory reporters are required to alarm authorities when they reasonably believe a child has been abused. Under Georgia constabulary, abuse includes physical injury or death, neglect, and sexual abuse and exploitation. Prove of abuse can include a broad range of signs including well-nigh all types of injuries as well every bit malnutrition and caretakers' failure by seek medical care for a child. Other signs that mandatory reporters may be required to take note of are lack of supervision for extended periods, hunger, and various behavioral issues. While neglect is considered a type of corruption in Georgia, the law does not indicate at all what level of bear witness is actually required to trigger a mandatory reporter's responsibleness to contact DFCS.

When a mandatory reporter believes the child to exist in immediate danger, he or she is required to contact law enforcement immediately. Otherwise, the mandatory reporter must make an oral report to DFCS within 24 hours providing the child's basic data, injuries, and history, likewise every bit other relevant information. Within an facility such every bit a school, hospital, or other agency, a mandatory reporter who is a staff member should warning the head of the facility, and that person will then be required to make the report to DFCS. After making an oral report, an boosted written report is required.

Information technology will exist interesting to see if this new law leads to more than faux reports of kid sex activity corruption.  It volition also be interesting to see how broadly prosecutors will utilise this new constabulary, and if we will run into criminal prosecutions of volunteers who work with kids when child abuse is later uncovered and the volunteer did not do enough to detect it and written report information technology.

Page Pate is an accomplished trial lawyer with over 25 years of experience in criminal defense, civil litigation, and whistleblower representation. Page is listed in The All-time Lawyers in America, Peak 100 Lawyers by The National Trial Lawyers, and named to the listing of Super Lawyers for the by xv consecutive years. Page is a frequent practiced legal annotator for local and national media and has served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Georgia Police School. Read Page'south reviews on AVVO. Follow Page on Twitter @pagepate and on Linkedin.

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Source: https://www.pagepate.com/new-georgia-law-requires-more-people-to-report-suspected-child-abuse/