There are many people who might act as mandated reporters for minors in Conencticut. Mandated reporters are legally obligated to report abuse to law enforcement or the Department of Children and Families if they suspect it. Understanding mandatory reporting is important if you have been accused of a sex crime involving a minor. Learn more on this page.

What is Mandatory Reporting?

A mandated reporter for children is required to report if he or she has reasonable belief or suspicion that a person under the age of eighteen years old has been abused or neglected, sexually abused, and/or is in imminent danger of being harmed to either DCF or law enforcement.

Mandated reporters for children include:

• Chiropractors.
• Day care center provider.
• DCF employees.
• Dentists.
• Dental hygienists.
• Department of Public Health employees.
• Family relation counselors.
• Juvenile or adult parole officers.
• Juvenile or adult probation officers.
• Licensed foster parents.
• Licensed or certified emergency medical service providers.
• Licensed practical nurses.
• Licensed professional counselors.
• Medical examiners.
• Members of the clergy.
• Mental health professionals.
• Office of Child Advocate Employees.
• Office of Early Childhood employees.
• Optometrists.
• Pharmacists.
• Physical therapists.
• Physician assistants.
• Physicians.
• Podiatrists.
• Police officers.
• Psychologists.
• Registered nurses.
• Resident physicians/interns (even if not licensed).
• School employees (private or public).
• Sexual assault counselor or battered women’s counselors.
• Social workers.
• Surgeons.
• Youth sports employees.

Any person who is a mandated reporter who fails to report will be fined $500-2,500 and must participate in an educational and training program.

More information can be found in Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 17a-93, 17a-101, 17a-101a, 17a-103, 17a-104, 46b-120, 52-146k.

Mandatory Reporting and the Elderly

There are also mandated reporters for elderly persons (over the age of 60). They are required to report to the Commissioner of Social Services when the mandated reporter believes or suspects an elderly person has been abused, neglected, exploited, or abandoned. The report must be made within 72 hours in which the reporter has suspected the abuse.

Mandated reporters for the elderly include:

• All nursing home and residential care home staff members.
• All people paid to care for nursing home residents or residential care home residents.
• All people paid to care for the elderly by an institution.
• Chiropractors.
• Clergymen.
• Dentists.
• Licensed practical nurses.
• Licensed registered nurses.
• Medical examiners.
• Nurse’s aides or orderlies in a nursing home facility or residential care home.
• Nursing home administrators.
• Optometrist.
• Pharmacists.
• Podiatrists.
• Police officers.
• Physical therapists.
• Physicians or surgeons.
• Psychologists.
• Resident physicians or interns in any hospital in the state.
• Residents’ advocate.
• Social workers.
• Those certified or licensed for emergency medical services.

Any person required to report who fails to report will be fined up to $500. If the reporter intentionally does not report the abuse, they will be charged with a Class C misdemeanor for the first offense and a Class A misdemeanor for any subsequent offenses. A Class C misdemeanor carries the penalties of a jail sentence of up to three months and a fine of up to $500 according to Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-36 (2019); Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-42 (2019). If the charge is classified as a Class A misdemeanor then the penalties are a term of imprisonment up to a year and a fine up to $2,000 Id.

More information about mandatory reporting is available in Connecticut statute Conn. Gen. Stat. § 17b-450, § 17b-451.

Contact Us to Discuss Mandated Reporters in CT

Still have questions about mandated reporters in Connecticut? Contact our office for more information and resources.