Who Has To Report It
Fla. Stat. 39.201 — every person reports immediately to the central abuse hotline
In Florida, a person is required to report immediately to the central abuse hotline, in writing, by the toll free number or electronically, if the person knows or has reasonable cause to suspect child abuse, abandonment or neglect by a parent or caregiver, among the other situations the section lists.
The duty is on every person, not only professionals. Any person who knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that a child is a victim of sexual abuse or juvenile sexual abuse also reports it to the hotline. Professionals the section lists, such as health care and mental health professionals, social workers and child care workers, report too, and must give their names.
- The hotline transfers certain reports straight to the county sheriff's office.
- Nothing in a foster care contract reduces anyone's duty to report to the hotline.
What counts as abuse or neglect, the immunity a good faith report carries, and the confidentiality of the reporter are set in other sections and are not reproduced here. In an emergency, the police come first. Whether a duty applied in a particular case is a question for a court and for a licensed Florida attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Fla. Stat. 39.201 — Required reports of child abuse, abandonment, or neglect
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Florida attorney.