# "Mandatory reporting" - only in professional context, or elsewhere as well? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 6, 2020, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-reporting-only-in-professional-context-or-elsewhere-as-well/919923 "2020-09-06T06:14:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2020, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-reporting-only-in-professional-context-or-elsewhere-as-well/919923/1 "2020-09-06T06:14:19Z")
Let’s use elder abuse, or child neglect, as examples. When encountering such things on the job, doctors, counselors and teachers would be required to report, of course. But what about when **off** the job - does the same legal requirement still apply, if they suspect something? ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2020, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-reporting-only-in-professional-context-or-elsewhere-as-well/919923/2 "2020-09-06T06:53:29Z")
States each have their own rules. See this pdf for specifics: > **[manda.pdf](https://cwig-prod-prod-drupal-s3fs-us-east-1.s3.amazonaws.com/public/documents/manda.pdf)** > > 614.39 KB As an example, in Alaska: > Reporting by Other Persons > Citation: Alaska Stat. § 47.17.020 > **Mandated reporters may report cases that come to their attention in their nonoccupational capacities.** ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2020, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-reporting-only-in-professional-context-or-elsewhere-as-well/919923/3 "2020-09-06T06:55:40Z")
Interestingly: > In at least [18 states](https://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/statutes/manda.pdf#Page=1&view=Fit), however, there are no listed mandatory reporters – _anyone_ and _everyone_ who knows or suspects that child abuse has occurred are required by law to make a report. [https://family.findlaw.com/child-abuse/checklist-are-you-a-mandatory-reporter-of-child-abuse.html](https://family.findlaw.com/child-abuse/checklist-are-you-a-mandatory-reporter-of-child-abuse.html) Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Indiana, New Jersey, and Wyoming ---
**Author:** ![eschrodinger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschrodinger/32/122_2.png) [@eschrodinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschrodinger)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2020, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-reporting-only-in-professional-context-or-elsewhere-as-well/919923/4 "2020-09-06T07:20:12Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > (quoting re Alaska law) > Mandated reporters may report cases that come to their attention in their nonoccupational capacities. In your non-professional context, you always _may_ report, just like any private citizen. In some states listed professionals _must_ report even in non-work circumstances, unless an exception applies. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2020, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-reporting-only-in-professional-context-or-elsewhere-as-well/919923/5 "2020-09-06T15:36:31Z")
Is there such a thing as a relationship close enough that reporting is not mandatory? To use a logically-extreme example, let’s say a doctor arrives home from work and finds his wife slapped their son in the face in a moment of anger. Is he now legally required to notify the police? ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2020, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-reporting-only-in-professional-context-or-elsewhere-as-well/919923/6 "2020-09-06T15:38:29Z")
Community college teacher in Oregon, here. It’s been a while since I’ve read the documentation, but IIRC I am a mandatory reporter 24/7, whether on the job or not. The PDF **needscoffee** linked to says: “A report is required when any public or private official has reasonable cause to believe that any child with whom the official comes in contact has suffered abuse.” That doesn’t specify 24/7, but it can be interpreted that way. I guess my college does so. ---
**Author:** ![Tabco](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tabco/32/7644_2.png) [@Tabco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tabco)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2020, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-reporting-only-in-professional-context-or-elsewhere-as-well/919923/7 "2020-09-06T15:55:15Z")
Student employee in Oregon, and my onboarding from about a year ago stipulated that I was a 24/7 mandatory reporter as well. From my school’s [website](https://youth.oregonstate.edu/abuse): > By law, employees of Oregon higher education institutions are mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect. This legal obligation to report applies 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days of the year, including work and non-work time. ---
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dread_pirate_jimbo/32/3897_2.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Jimbo)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2020, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-reporting-only-in-professional-context-or-elsewhere-as-well/919923/8 "2020-09-07T17:31:01Z")
When I earned my designation as a Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) it came with the promise of mandatory reporting of any safety violation I witness that creates an imminent danger to life or limb, whether I see it on the job or in my private life. It isn’t a legal obligation, but essentially a moral one, which I have done on more than one occasion. ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2020, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-reporting-only-in-professional-context-or-elsewhere-as-well/919923/9 "2020-09-07T18:51:51Z")
> [@GESancMan](#): > > Community college teacher in Oregon, her Same! ::waves:: My understanding is the same as yours: I’m a mandatory reporter 24/7, on campus and off. That is what HR has always told us. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2020, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-reporting-only-in-professional-context-or-elsewhere-as-well/919923/10 "2020-09-07T19:51:43Z")
Oregon is 24/7 for mandated reporters. /person who teaches this stuff ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2020, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-reporting-only-in-professional-context-or-elsewhere-as-well/919923/11 "2020-09-07T23:39:29Z")
In my state (NY) , mandated reporters are required to report their suspicions when a child, parent or other person legally responsible for the child comes before the mandated reporter in a professional capacity. Social service workers must also report when any person comes before them in their professional capacity and states from personal knowledge facts and circumstances that if true would constitute abuse or neglect. Doesn’t mean I wouldn’t report under other circumstances - but it does mean I’m not required to. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2020, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-reporting-only-in-professional-context-or-elsewhere-as-well/919923/12 "2020-09-07T23:50:13Z")
I wouldn’t trust the details in that linked PDF without checking elsewhere- it says that only 17 states list parole and probation officers , and NYS is not one of them. But parole and probation officers are indeed mandated reporters in NYS - they just come under the more general term “peace officer” ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2020, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-reporting-only-in-professional-context-or-elsewhere-as-well/919923/13 "2020-09-08T00:00:44Z")
^^ Of course, I was just trying to get Velocity to look up basic answers himself instead of starting threads asking other people to look it up for him. I wasn’t going to go through that entire thing to vet it for him, too. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2020, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-reporting-only-in-professional-context-or-elsewhere-as-well/919923/14 "2020-09-08T00:11:00Z")
I wasn’t criticizing you for not vetting the whole thing. I didn’t - I just happen to know that particular item is misleading. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2020, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-reporting-only-in-professional-context-or-elsewhere-as-well/919923/15 "2020-09-08T00:21:56Z")
Oh, I knew you weren’t. Sorry if I wasn’t clear. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2020, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mandatory-reporting-only-in-professional-context-or-elsewhere-as-well/919923/16 "2020-09-08T00:34:43Z")
@doreen, I’ve wanted to say for ages that your posts here on the board have always been especially thoughtful and informative. It’s always worth paying extra attention whenever you post. I know I’ll always learn something new.