If you work in a field where you are in regular contact with juveniles, you are considered a mandatory reporter. Failure to immediately notify the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) about abuse allegations could lead to criminal charges and other consequences. Therefore, it is vital to have a dedicated defense attorney to advocate on your behalf in these situations.
At the Law Offices of Mark Sherman, our attorneys understand how to protect the rights of mandated reporters. Instead of assuming you have done something wrong, talk to a Wilton mandated reporter lawyer about your case.
Whether or not you are a mandated reporter depends on your profession. More than 40 different professionals are considered mandated reporters. This is primarily based on their positions of authority in the community or their proximity to children. Some examples of mandated reporters include:
If you have been accused of failing to notify the authorities of an alleged act of abuse, you should seek help from a legal professional right away. A mandated reporter lawyer in Wilton can discuss your options with you.
According to state law, mandated reporters must notify DCF any time they have a reasonable suspicion that a child has been abused or neglected, as a Wilton attorney can explain. The bar for reporting is relatively low, meaning you need substantially less than actual knowledge or strong evidence that abuse occurred.
It is important to note that this standard also requires a report in situations where minors are placed at imminent risk of serious harm. Reporters do not have to wait until an act of abuse occurs if they are confident that it will happen.
These reports should happen immediately. Reporters can call the 24-hour hotline or speak directly with a law enforcement officer. This contact must occur within 12 hours of becoming aware of the abuse. In addition to the initial report, you must also submit something known as Form DCF-136 within 48 hours.
There are steep penalties that can come with failing to report an allegation of abuse or neglect. According to the law, mandated reporters can be charged with a Class A misdemeanor if they do not notify the authorities of an act of abuse. If convicted of a Class A misdemeanor, you could face fines of up to $2,000 along with a maximum one-year jail term.
These penalties can increase under certain circumstances. Specifically, you could be charged with a Class E felony if any of the following factors are present:
In each of these situations, you can face a fine of $3,500 and a maximum prison term of three years. However, with the support of a mandated reporter attorney in Wilton, you can avoid these consequences.
Prosecutors take allegations of child abuse seriously, and the same is true for the failure to report these incidents. If you have been accused of failing to notify law enforcement about an allegation of abuse or neglect, you should speak to a Wilton mandated reporter lawyer as soon as possible.
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