BEHS 453 Discussion 5: Reporting Child Abuse
Name of State: Florida
- In Florida statute child abuse is defined as purposeful harm to a child’s bodily or mental health; a purposeful act that is anticipated to do harm; or the instigation of another person to engage in behavior that can result in harm to a child.
- The mandated reporters in Flordia are anyone in the medical-related field. This can include physicians, nurses, hospital administration, medical examiners, etc. Educational teachers and school personnel. Social worker, and childcare facilitators. Law enforcement and judges and are all part of the reporters that are required to.
- In Florida officers or employees that reside in law enforcement are not required to report if they suspect child abuse by an adult.
- In Florida, it is required to report if you suspect child abuse. If you knowingly do not report then it is considered a felony of the third degree. The crime is punishable by up to 5 years in prison, 5 years of probation, and a $5000 fine.
- Child witnesses to domestic violence are addressed in the statute. Child witnesses who see the violence also can become a victim. The child is a potential risk for also being a victim of the abuse they are witnessing. Many of the children witnessed can later become victims of the same or the abuser of the same thing they witnessed as children.
- I do not see any good reason to not report child abuse. Abuse in any form can cause long-term effects. Even if the abuse is the smallest and might not exactly abuse it could progress to becoming something worse. While it can be scary to report I do believe it is the right thing regardless of the consequences.
Citations:
Online Sunshine. (2022). The 2022 Florida Statutes. Welcome : Online Sunshine.
In this discussion, we’re going to take a look at issues associated with reporting known or suspected cases of child abuse.
According to the American Psychological Association Presidential Task Force on Violence and the Family, “Surveys of health care professionals, including mental health providers, indicate that professionals often fail to report identified child maltreatment, despite being trained to identify child abuse and neglect. Many professionals indicate that they do not believe others will follow through to provide the help needed by a family coping with violence.” (APA, 1996, p. 63)
For the purposes of this discussion, choose a state that you are interested in and respond to all of the following questions and at least 2 of your classmates’ posts.
Helpful web site:
- Child Welfare Information Gateway
Name of State:
- How is child abuse defined in the statute?
- Who are the mandated reporters?
- Is any group specified as “exempt”? If yes, please explain
- What are the penalties for failing to report?
- Are child witnesses to domestic violence addressed in the statute? If yes, please explain
- Do you think there is ever a good reason for a professional to fail to report child abuse?
- Post your original discussion response by Saturday, 11:59 p.m. ET.
- Post replies in two other students’ threads by Tuesday, 11:59 p.m. ET.
- See the Syllabus under “Project Descriptions” for a detailed description of expectations for both original question posts and replies to others.
Child abuse in the state of Georgie is defines child abuse as a physical injury or death inflicted upon a child by a parent or caretaker thereof by other than accidental means; provided, however, that physical forms of discipline may be used if there is no physical injury to the child. Neglect or exploitation of a child by a parent or caretaker thereof. Endangering a child; sexual abuse of a child, or sexual exploitation of a child.
The mandated reporters in Georgia include but are not limited to faculty/teachers, administrators, counselors, social workers, psychologists, law enforcement personnel, and other persons who participate in providing care, treatment, education, training, supervision, coaching, counseling, recreational programs, or shelter to minors.
A member of the clergy shall not be required to report child abuse reported solely within the context of confession or other similar communication required to be kept confidential under church doctrine or practice.
A person who is required to report a suspected case of child abuse and fails to do so will be guilty of a misdemeanor. Misdemeanor convictions come with a penalty of a $1,000 fine, up to 1 year in jail, or both.
On June 20, 2012, the Georgia Supreme Court overruled its 1998 decision in Woodward v. State and held that statements made by children who merely “witness” sexual or physical abuse are now admissible under the child hearsay statute. In the 1994 case of Thorton v. State, the Georgia Supreme Court refused to admit statements made by a child who claimed to have observed the defendant physically abuse two other children. In response, the Georgia legislature added a phrase to the Child hearsay Statute in 1995 explicitly permitting the admission of out-of-court statements of children who were merely witnesses to abuse. I personally do not think there is ever a good reason for a professional to fail to report child abuse.
References:
What is child abuse? Criminal Justice Coordinating Council. (n.d.). Retrieved October 6, 2022, from
Ga mandated reporter information. PCA Georgia. (n.d.). Retrieved October 6, 2022, from
University System of Georgia. Organizational Effectiveness | Mandatory Reporting | University System of Georgia. (n.d.). Retrieved October 6, 2022, from
Mandated reporting. Georgia Office of the Child Advocate. (n.d.). Retrieved October 6, 2022, from
Georgia Supreme Court expands scope of child hearsay statute. Brody Law Firm. (2019, November 19). Retrieved October 6, 2022, from
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