Who Has To Report It

In Pennsylvania, the adults the section lists make a report of suspected child abuse when they have reasonable cause to suspect a child is a victim, in the circumstances the section sets.

• §23 Pa.C.S. 6311

• Licensed health professionals, medical examiners, coroners and funeral directors, and health care facility employees who care for patients.
• School employees, child care workers, social services employees and public library employees with direct contact with children.
• Clergy and other religious leaders, peace officers and emergency medical services providers.
• Anyone, paid or unpaid, responsible for a child's welfare or in direct contact with children as part of a regularly scheduled program, activity or service.
• A staff member of an institution, school or agency reports immediately and then notifies the person in charge.

• §23 Pa.C.S. 6311

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 Pennsylvania attorney.

• §23 Pa.C.S. 6311