Anyone in Connecticut who suspects that a child is being abused or neglected at home has the right to file a report about their suspicions with the Department of Children and Families (“DCF”), which will then investigate the matter and potentially take further action to address it. However, certain people are not just allowed to do this but are legally required to report any reasonable suspicions they have that a child is being mistreated, and they may face serious criminal consequences if they fail to do so.
As any experienced DCF defense attorney can tell you, understanding how state law addresses “mandated reporters” is vital to protecting minors from being abused and protecting yourself from legal trouble. If you are being accused of not abiding by this law, or fear you may be, you should get in touch with a Darien mandated reporter lawyer sooner rather than later.
Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) § 17a-101 designates 41 different types of people working in healthcare, education, and other fields that often involve interacting with children on a daily basis as “mandated reporters.” While this is not an exhaustive list of who does and does not have this designation in Darien, examples of people who are virtually always treated as mandated reporters here include:
Anyone who is unsure whether their job or career path qualifies them as a mandated reporter in Darien can speak with an experienced attorney for more information.
Under C.G.S. §17a-101a, anyone designated as a mandated reporter in Darien must report to the DCF any reasonable suspicion which arises in the course of their normal employment that a child under 18 has been neglected or abused, sustained a nonaccidental physical injury, or has been “placed at imminent risk of serious harm.” Additionally, school employees must report to the DCF any suspicions they have that a student under 18 has experienced any form of criminal sexual assault.
Mandated reporters must make reports by calling the DCF’s 24-hour hotline or speaking to a law enforcement officer within 12 hours of when they first became aware of a reportable issue, and they must fill out and submit Form DCF-136 to the DCF within 48 hours of their initial verbal report. Failure to do this or to provide comprehensive information with the report in accordance with state law may be prosecuted as a Class A misdemeanor for most first-time offenders or a Class E felony if certain aggravating conditions are present.
The Connecticut state government takes mandated reporter laws extremely seriously and is not opposed to pursuing harsh criminal sentences for people who violate them. Fortunately, you have help available from an experienced legal professional who has handled situations like yours before and can help you protect your rights to the fullest extent possible.
A Darien mandated reporter lawyer can go into more specific detail about your legal options and obligations during a private consultation. Schedule yours by calling Mark Sherman Law today. Click here to view our Avvo profile with over 300 certified reviews from previous clients.
