LAW: CHILD ABUSE
903 - Reporting of Child Abuse
Any physician, and any other person in the healing arts including any person licensed to render services in medicine, osteopathy,
dentistry, any intern, resident, nurse, school employee, social worker, psychologist, medical examiner or any other person
who knows or in good faith suspects child abuse or neglect shall make a report in accordance with § § 904 of this
title. In addition to and not in lieu of reporting to the Division of Family Services, any such person may also give oral or
written notification of said knowledge or suspicion to any police officer who is in the presence of such person for the
purpose of rendering assistance to the child in question or investigating the cause of the child's injuries or condition.
Section 902 states:
As used in this chapter, the following terms mean:
(1) "Abuse" shall mean any physical injury to a child by those responsible for the care, custody and control of the child, through unjustified force as defined in § § 468 of Title 11, emotional abuse, torture, criminally negligent treatment, sexual abuse, exploitation, maltreatment or mistreatment
11) "Neglect" shall mean the failure to provide, by those responsible for the care, custody and control of the child, the proper or
necessary: Education as required by law; nutrition; or medical, surgical or any other care necessary for the child's well-being.
Section 904 states:
Any report required to be made under this chapter shall be made to the Division of Child Protective Services of the Department of
Services for Children, Youth and Their Families. An immediate oral report shall be made by telephone or otherwise. Reports and the
contents thereof including a written report, if requested, shall be made in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Division
of Child Protective Services, or in accordance with the rules and regulations adopted by the Division.
Section 904, states, in part:
a) The Division shall establish and maintain a 24-hour statewide toll-free telephone report line operating at all times and capable of
receiving reports of alleged abuse and neglect pursuant to § § 904 of this title or from the public at large.
Section 906 reads, in part
13) When a written report is made by a person required to report under § § 903 of this title, the Division shall contact the
person who made such report within 48 hours of the receipt of the report In order to ensure that full information has been received and
to obtain any additional information or medical records, or both, which may be pertinent;
16) A person required to report under § § 903 of this title to the Division shall be informed by the Division of the
person's right to obtain information concerning the disposition of the report. Such person shall receive, from the local office, if
requested, information on the general disposition of thereport at the conclusion of the investigation;
Section 909 reads;
No legally recognized privilege, except that between attorney and client and that between priest and penitent in a sacramental
confession, shall apply to situations involving known or suspected child abuse, neglect, exploitation or abandonment and shall not
constitute grounds for failure to report as required by § § 903 of this title or to give or accept evidence in any judicial
proceeding relating to child abuse or neglect.
(a) The Division shall, on a continuing basis, undertake and maintain programs to inform all persons required to report abuse or neglect pursuant to § § 903 of this title and the public of the nature, problem and extent of abuse and neglect, and of the remedial and therapeutic services available to children and their families and to encourage self-reporting and the voluntary acceptance of such services.
(b) The Division shall conduct ongoing training programs to advance the purpose of this section.
(c) The Division shall continuously publicize the existence of the 24-hour report-line to those required to report abuse or neglect pursuant to § § 903 of this title of their responsibilities and to the public the existence of the 24- hour statewide toll-free telephone number to receive reports of abuse or neglect.