Mandatory Child Abuse Reporting Laws: Issues and Implications for Treating Offenders

• NCJ Number: 152821
• Journal: Journal of Offender Rehabilitation Volume: 21 Issue: 1/2 Dated: (1994) Pages: 27-43
• Author(s): S C Kalichman; C L Brosig; M O Kalichman
• Date Published: 1994
• Length: 17 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Legislation requiring professionals to report suspected child abuse constitutes a major facet of social policy directed at preventing child maltreatment, but such legislation may pose confidentiality and treatment dilemmas in the professional-client relationship.

Abstract

Mental health professionals in general and professionals who treat offenders in particular are frequently made aware of child abuse situations that should be reported to child protection agencies. The child protection system relies on the identification of abused children and has therefore developed channels for both professionals and citizens to report known or suspected child abuse cases. Mandatory child abuse reporting has specific implications for professionals who treat offenders. Statutes requiring professionals to report any suspected child abuse will likely discourage abusers from seeking treatment. Offenders will recognize the professional's legal requirement to report and may not fully disclose information. Further, when reporting suspected child abuse is perceived by professionals as a threat to treatment, they will hesitate to report. Because there are no accepted professional standards for mandatory reporting of suspected child abuse, professionals are left to make their own reporting determinations. Nonetheless, professionals who treat offenders, particularly child abuse perpetrators, play an integral role in the child protection system. Professionals can take significant steps toward preventing child abuse by routinely evaluating the potential for abuse among all their clients. Clinical indicators of child abuse potential, such as ineffective coping skills, low frustration tolerance, inadequate parenting skills, and misperceptions about child development, may be dealt with directly in offender treatment. A brief history of mandatory child abuse reporting laws is provided. 34 references and 1 figure