Mandatory Child Abuse Reporting Laws in Georgia: Strengthening Protection for Georgia Children
Date
2015
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Publisher
Georgia State University Law Review
Abstract
In 2011, an estimated 681,000 children were victims of abuse or neglect in the United States.18 Approximately 120,000 of those children suffered some type of physical abuse, approximately 62,000 suffered sexual abuse, and about 534,600 suffered from neglect. Abuse or neglect caused the deaths of 1,570 children. In an effort to combat the scourge of child abuse in this country, every state and the District of Columbia have enacted legislation that mandates the reporting of suspected child abuse to designated authorities. Each state sets its own standards and guidelines for reporting, including who must report, and when. This Note examines Georgia’s mandated reporting law and evaluates its sufficiency for protecting children in the state. Part I discusses the need for reporting laws and the reasoning behind this type of legislation. Part II evaluates Georgia’s reporting law in detail and analyzes the approaches and reasoning adopted in several other states and the federal government, focusing on those states that offer the most expansive requirements for reporting. Part III suggests additions to Georgia’s mandatory reporting law to expand the protection afforded the state’s children. (Author Text)
Description
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Keywords
child abuse, mandated reporters, law, policy
Citation
Johnson, M. (2015). MANDATORY CHILD ABUSE REPORTING LAWS IN GEORGIA: STRENGTHENING PROTECTION FOR GEORGIA'S CHILDREN. Georgia State University Law Review, 31(3), 643-643.