Who Has to Report Child Abuse

A mandated reporter who, in the ordinary course of their work, has reasonable cause to suspect or believe that a child under the age of eighteen years has been abused or neglected, has a nonaccidental injury or one at odds with the history given, or is at imminent risk of serious harm, reports it.

• Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17a-101aStatuteReport of abuse, neglect or injury of child or imminent risk of serious harm to child. Factors for mandated reporter's suspicion or belief; preliminary inquiriesOpens cga.ct.gov ↗

• The suspicion may rest on observations, allegations, or statements by the child or anyone else, and does not require certainty or probable cause.
• A preliminary inquiry to see whether there is reasonable cause is allowed.
• The oral or electronic report is made as soon as practicable but not later than twelve hours after, by telephone or in person to the Commissioner of Children and Families or a law enforcement agency, or electronically as the commissioner prescribes.

• Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17a-101aStatuteReport of abuse, neglect or injury of child or imminent risk of serious harm to child. Factors for mandated reporter's suspicion or belief; preliminary inquiriesOpens cga.ct.gov ↗
• Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17a-101bStatuteReport by mandated reporter. Notification of law enforcement agency when allegation of sexual abuse or serious physical abuse. Notification of person in charge of institution, facility or school when staff member suspected of abuse or neglectOpens cga.ct.gov ↗