NCJ Number
176476
Date Published
1996
Length
121 pages
Annotation
This book presents and interprets North Carolina's child abuse and neglect reporting law, and provides guidelines for complying with it.
Abstract
"The child abuse reporting law" is part of the Juvenile Code. Enacted in 1980 to replace the 1971 law, it not distinguish between professionals and other citizens; it requires reporting by any person or institution that has cause to suspect that a child is being abused or neglected. A 1993 amendment also requires people and institutions to make a report when they have cause to suspect that a child is dependent or that a child has died as the result of maltreatment. The law applies to the abuse and neglect of all juveniles. Abuse and neglect is defined in the law in terms of the conduct of parents, guardians, custodians, or caretakers. In addition to defining key terms in the law, this book intends to help readers identify situations for which reporting is required. It further instructs readers in how to make a report, both when the law requires that a report be made and when, even though a report is not required legally, a person feels that one should be made. The book also provides information on what happens after a report is made and answers some of the frequently asked questions about the reporting law. Appended selected portions of the North Carolina Juvenile Code, elements of selected criminal statutes, the address of the State Division of Social Services, and a directory of county departments of social services