Connecticut law requires certain professionals, known as mandated reporters, to report to DCF suspected abuse or neglect of children. The common thread among all the mandated reporters is that these individuals have extensive interaction with children. For example, teachers, doctors, therapists and members of the clergy are all mandated reporters.
Mandated reporters in Connecticut also include school coaches. Currently, the mandated reporting requirement does not extend to college or university coaches. However, in light of the Penn State scandal, there is a movement to add these coaches, as well administrators in higher education, to the list of mandated reporters.
A mandated reporter’s failure to contact DCF may result in a fine or the individual being ordered to participate in an education and training program focused on child protection.
Some argue that the DCF mandated reporting requirement results in overzealous reporting. On average, only about 50% of the calls to the DCF Hotline lead to an investigation and of those only about 1/2 lead to a full DCF investigation.
Mandated reporting imposes a legal obligation upon a certain class of people to contact DCF. But one need not be a mandated report to alert DCF. Other individuals who legitimately believe that a child is abused or neglected should feel a moral obligation to report.
How about those reports made without any legal justification? For example, a report made to DCF just to harass a family. Well-any person who knowingly makes a false report of child abuse or neglect may be fined up to $2,000 and/or imprisoned for up to a year.
A good summary of DCF Mandated Reporting appears here: