Mandatory Reporting Requirements: Children
New Jersey

• Any person having reasonable cause to believe that a child has been subjected to child abuse, including sexual abuse, or acts of child abuse.

When is a report required?

• Reasonable cause to believe a child has been subjected to child abuse, including sexual abuse, or acts of child abuse.

Where does it go?

• Division of Child Protection & Permanency (formerly called the Division of Youth & Family Services) Child Abuse Hotline (State Central Registry): 1-877-NJ ABUSE – 1-877-652-2873).

• “Abused child” means:   
• a child whose parent, guardian, or other person having his custody and control inflicts or allows to be inflicted upon such child physical injury by other than accidental means which causes or creates a substantial risk of death, or serious or protracted disfigurement, or protracted impairment of physical or emotional health or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily organ;
• a child whose parent, guardian, or other person having his custody and control creates or allows to be created a substantial or ongoing risk of physical injury to such child by other than accidental means which would be likely to cause death or serious or protracted disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily organ;
• a child whose parent, guardian, or other person having his custody and control commits or allows to be committed an act of sexual abuse against the child;
• a child whose physical, mental, or emotional condition has been impaired or is in imminent danger of becoming impaired as the result of the failure of his parent or guardian, or such other person having his custody and control, to exercise a minimum degree of care (1) in supplying the child with adequate food, clothing, shelter, education, medical or surgical care though financially able to do so or though offered financial or other reasonable means to do so, or (2) in providing the child with proper supervision or guardianship, by unreasonably inflicting or allowing to be inflicted harm, or substantial risk thereof, including the infliction of excessive corporal punishment or using excessive physical restraint under circumstances which do not indicate that the child’s behavior is harmful to himself, others or property; or by any other act of a similarly serious nature requiring the aid of the court;
• a child who has been willfully abandoned by his parent or guardian, or such other person having his custody and control; or
• a child who is in an institution (public or private facility in the state which provides children with out of home care, supervision, or maintenance, including a correctional, detention, or treatment facility) and (1) has been so placed inappropriately for a continued period of time with the knowledge that the placement has resulted and may continue to result in harm to the child’s mental or physical well-being or (2) has been willfully isolated from ordinary social contact under circumstances which indicate emotional or social deprivation.
• “Child” means a person under the age of 18.

• Reports must be made immediately by telephone or otherwise.

• Reports should contain, where possible:
• The names and addresses of the child and his/her parent, guardian or other person having custody and control of the child;
• If known:
• the child’s age;
• name of the alleged perpetrator and that person’s relationship to the child;
• the nature and possible extent of the child’s injuries, abuse or maltreatment, including any evidence of previous injuries, abuse or maltreatment; and
• any other information that may be helpful with respect to the child abuse and the identity of the perpetrator, including how urgent the need is for intervention and whether there is a likelihood of imminent danger for the child.

• Any person knowingly violating the provisions of this act, including the failure to report an act of child abuse having reasonable cause to believe that an act of child abuse has been committed, is a disorderly person. If convicted of a disorderly person’s offense, a person will be subject to a $50.00 fine for each offense.
• Any person who knowingly fails to report an act of sexual abuse against a child and who has reasonable cause to believe that an act of sexual abuse has been committed is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree.
• Anyone making a mandatory report under this act shall have immunity from any liability, civil or criminal, that might otherwise be incurred or imposed. Any such person shall have the same immunity with respect to testimony given in any judicial proceeding resulting from such report.
• A person who reports or causes to report in good faith an allegation of child abuse or neglect and as a result thereof is discharged from employment or in any manner discriminated against with respect to compensation, hire, tenure or terms, conditions or privileges of employment, may file a cause of action for appropriate relief in the family part of the Chancery Division of the Superior Court in the county in which the discharge or alleged discrimination occurred or in the county of the person’s primary residence.

N.J. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 9:6-8.9, 9:6-8.10, 9:6-8.13, 9:6-8.14, 2C:43-3.1.a(2)(a)