Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS

800.394.3366 | Email: info@childwelfare.gov | https://www.childwelfare.gov

STATE 

STATUTES

Current Through 

June 2016

Cross-Reporting Among 

Responders to Child Abuse

and Neglect 

WHAT’S INSIDE

Cross-reporting between 

protective and law 

enforcement agencies

Other cross-reporting 

requirements

Full-text excerpts of 

State laws

To find statute 

information for a 

particular State, 

go to 

https://www.childwelfare.

gov/topics/systemwide/

laws-policies/state/.

All 50 States, the District of Columbia, American 

Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, 

Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have 

statutes specifying procedures that State agencies 

must follow in handling reports of suspected child 

abuse or neglect. In most States, these procedures 

include requirements for cross-system reporting 

and/or information sharing among professional 

entities. Typically, reports are shared among social 

services agencies, law enforcement departments, and 

prosecutors’ offices. 

In most States, a mandated reporter or other person 

who is concerned about a child’s safety and welfare 

can make a report of suspected child maltreatment to 

a reporting hotline, the child protection services 

(CPS) agency, or a law enforcement agency. 

Requiring some or all of these agencies to share 

information (i.e., cross-report) ensures that the 

appropriate information gets to the agency that must 

conduct the investigation or family assessment.
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Cross-Reporting Between Protective 

and Law Enforcement Agencies

Specific models for information sharing vary from State to 

State. For example, CPS agencies generally have the 

responsibility of responding to cases in which the 

suspected abuse or neglect is caused by a parent, family 

member, or other caregiver. In approximately 26 States, 

cases in which the suspected maltreatment is caused by 

someone other than a family member, or in which the 

maltreatment involves sexual abuse or severe injury to the 

child, are considered crimes and must be cross-reported 

to law enforcement agencies for investigation.1

1 The word “approximately” is used to stress the fact that States frequently 

amend their laws. This information is current only through June 2016. The 

States that require CPS agencies to cross-report specific types of abuse to 

law enforcement agencies include Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, 

Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, 

Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North 

Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, 

Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

 In seven 

States, a CPS agency must notify the appropriate law 

enforcement agency when a report alleges that a child is 

the victim of human trafficking.2

2 California, Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, and 

Vermont.

In nine States, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, 

and Guam, all reports made initially to a CPS agency must 

be cross-reported to the appropriate law enforcement 

agency, and reports made to law enforcement must be 

cross-reported to CPS.3

3 Arizona, California, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oregon, 

Utah, and Wyoming.

 In 16 States, CPS and law 

enforcement agencies are required to coordinate 

investigations and share information in order to minimize 

the number of times individual children are interviewed.4

4 Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New 

Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota (in cases involving criminal abuse 

allegations), Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming.

Seven States require information sharing among 

multidisciplinary teams that conduct assessments and 

provide services to families.5

5 Arkansas, Delaware, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and 

Virginia.

Other Cross-Reporting Requirements

In Oklahoma and South Carolina, authorities at a Federal 

military installation must be notified when the alleged 

child victim is a member of a military family. In Minnesota, 

when maltreatment occurs on Tribal land, the CPS agency 

and the police department must notify the Tribe’s social 

services agency and Tribal law enforcement when a report 

is received. In addition, CPS agencies in Minnesota must 

provide notice to an Indian child’s Tribe when the agency 

has reason to believe a family assessment or investigation 

may involve an Indian child. Wisconsin also requires a CPS 

agency to notify the Tribal agent when a victim of child 

maltreatment is an Indian child.

This publication is a product of the State Statutes 

Series prepared by Child Welfare Information 

Gateway. While every attempt has been made 

to be as complete as possible, additional 

information on these topics may be in other 

sections of a State’s code as well as agency 

regulations, case law, and informal practices and 

procedures.

Suggested Citation: 

Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2016). Crossreporting among responders to child abuse and neglect. 

Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human 

Services, Children’s Bureau.
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Alabama

Ala. Code § 26-14-3(b)-(d)

When an initial report is made to a law enforcement official, the official subsequently shall inform the Department of Human 

Resources of the report so the department can carry out its responsibility to provide protective services, when deemed appropriate 

to the respective child or children.

When the department receives an initial report of suspected abuse or neglect involving discipline or corporal punishment 

committed in a public or private school or suspected abuse or neglect, as defined in § 26-14-1, including suspected abuse or neglect, 

in a State-operated child residential facility, the department shall transmit a copy of school reports to the law enforcement agency 

and residential facility reports to the operating State agency, which shall conduct the investigation.

Nothing in this chapter shall preclude interagency agreements among departments of human resources, law enforcement, and any 

other State agencies on procedures for investigating reports of suspected child abuse and neglect to provide for departments of 

human resources to assist law enforcement and other State agencies in these investigations.

Ala. Code § 26-14-7(d) 

The county Department of Human Resources shall make a complete written report of the investigation, together with its 

recommendations. Such reports may be made available to the appropriate court, the district attorney, and the appropriate law 

enforcement agency upon request.

Alaska

Alaska Stat. § 47.17.025(a)

A law enforcement agency immediately shall notify the Department of Health and Social Services of the receipt of a report of harm 

to a child from abuse. Upon receipt from any source of a report of harm to a child from abuse, the department shall notify the 

Department of Law and investigate the report and, within 72 hours of the receipt of the report, shall provide a written report of its 

investigation of the harm to a child from abuse to the Department of Law for review.

Alaska Stat. § 47.17.020(c), (e) 

If the person making a report of harm under this section cannot reasonably contact the nearest office of the Department of Health 

and Social Services and immediate action is necessary for the well-being of the child, the person shall make the report to a peace 

officer. The peace officer immediately shall take action to protect the child and, at the earliest opportunity, shall notify the nearest 

office of the department.

The department immediately shall notify the nearest law enforcement agency if the department:

• Concludes that the harm was caused by a person who is not responsible for the child's welfare

• Is unable to determine who caused the harm to the child or whether the person who is believed to have caused the harm has 

responsibility for the child's welfare

• Concludes that the report involves possible criminal conduct or abuse or neglect that results in the need for medical 

treatment of the child

American Samoa

Ann. Code § 45.2010(a) 

Reports of known or suspected child abuse or neglect made under this chapter immediately are made to the Department [of Public 

Safety] by a written report prepared by those persons required to report, if so requested by the receiving agency. The receiving 

agency forwards a copy of its own report to the central registry on forms supplied by the registry.

If at any time a report of suspected child abuse or neglect is made to the [child protection] agency, the Department [of Public Safety] 

must be notified. If a report of suspected child abuse or neglect is made to the department, the agency must be notified.
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Arizona

Rev. Stat. § 13-3620(H) 

When telephone or in-person reports are received by a peace officer, the officer immediately shall notify child protective services 

in the Department of Child Safety and make the information available to them. Notwithstanding any other statute, when the 

department receives these reports, it immediately shall notify a peace officer in the appropriate jurisdiction.

Arkansas

Ann. Code § 12-18-503 

The Department of Human Services and the Department of Arkansas State Police shall notify the following of any report of child 

maltreatment within 5 business days:

• The legal parents, legal guardians, and current foster parent of a child in foster care who is named as a victim or alleged 

offender

• The attorney ad litem for any child named as the victim or alleged offender

• A person appointed by the court as the court-appointed special advocate volunteer for any child named as the victim or 

alleged offender

• Counsel in a dependency-neglect case or family in need of services case when the child is named as a victim or alleged 

offender

• The attorney ad litem and court-appointed special advocate volunteer for all other children in the same foster home, if the 

child maltreatment occurred in a foster home

• The attorney ad litem and court-appointed special advocate for any child in foster care when the alleged juvenile offender or 

underaged juvenile aggressor is placed in the same placement as the attorney ad litem or court-appointed special advocate's 

client

• The appropriate multidisciplinary team

• A mandated reporter, if the mandated reporter made the initial notification of suspected child maltreatment and the 

notification has been accepted for investigation

Ann. Code § 12-18-504 

The Department of Human Services and the Department of Arkansas State Police immediately shall notify local law enforcement of 

all reports of severe maltreatment. 

Notification of a report of child maltreatment shall be provided within 5 business days to the prosecuting attorney on an allegation of 

severe maltreatment.

The prosecuting attorney may provide written notice to the Department of Human Services and the Department of Arkansas State 

Police that the Department of Human Services and the Department of Arkansas State Police do not need to provide notification of 

the initial child maltreatment report to the prosecuting attorney's office. Upon receiving the notification, the Department of Human 

Services and the Department of Arkansas State Police shall not be required to provide notification of the initial child maltreatment 

report to the prosecuting attorney's office.

California

Penal Code § 11166(j)

A county probation or welfare department shall immediately, or as soon as practicably possible, report by telephone, fax, or 

electronic transmission to the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the case, to the agency given the responsibility 

for investigation of cases under § 300 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, and to the district attorney's office every known or 

suspected instance of child abuse or neglect, as defined in §11165.6, except acts or omissions coming within § 11165.2(b), or reports 

made pursuant to § 11165.13 based on risk to a child that relates solely to the inability of the parent to provide the child with regular 

care due to the parent's substance abuse, which shall be reported only to the county welfare or probation department. A county 

probation or welfare department also shall send, fax, or electronically transmit a written report thereof within 36 hours of receiving 

the information concerning the incident to any agency to which it makes a telephone report under this subdivision.
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A county probation or welfare department shall immediately after receiving information that a child or youth who is receiving child 

welfare services has been identified as the victim of commercial sexual exploitation, as defined in § 11165.1(d), and in no case in more 

than 24 hours, report to the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction over the case.

When a child or youth who is receiving child welfare services and who is reasonably believed to be the victim of, or is at risk of being 

the victim of, commercial sexual exploitation, is missing, or has been abducted, the county probation or welfare department shall 

immediately, or in no case later than 24 hours from receipt of the information, report the incident to the appropriate law enforcement 

authority for entry into the National Crime Information Center Database of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and to the National 

Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Penal Code § 11166(k)

A law enforcement agency immediately, or as soon as practicably possible, shall report by telephone, fax, or electronic transmission 

to the agency given responsibility for investigation of cases under § 300 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and to the district 

attorney's office every known or suspected instance of child abuse or neglect reported to it, except acts or omissions coming within 

§ 11165.2(b), which shall be reported only to the county welfare or probation department. A law enforcement agency shall report 

to the county welfare or probation department every known or suspected instance of child abuse or neglect reported to it that is 

alleged to have occurred as a result of the action of a person responsible for the child's welfare, or as the result of the failure of a 

person responsible for the child's welfare to adequately protect the minor from abuse when the person responsible for the child's 

welfare knew or reasonably should have known that the minor was in danger of abuse. A law enforcement agency also shall send, fax, 

or electronically transmit a written report thereof within 36 hours of receiving the information concerning the incident to any agency 

to which it makes a telephone report.

Colorado

Rev. Stat. § 19-3-307(3) 

A copy of the report of known or suspected child abuse or neglect shall be transmitted immediately by the county Department of 

Social Services to the district attorney's office and to the local law enforcement agency.

When the county department reasonably believes a criminal act of abuse or neglect of a child in foster care has occurred, the county 

department shall transmit immediately a copy of the written report prepared by the county department to the district attorney's 

office and to the local law enforcement agency.

Rev. Stat. § 19-3-308(4)(b), (5) 

Upon the receipt of a report, if the county Department of Social Services reasonably believes that an incident of intrafamilial abuse 

or neglect has occurred, it immediately shall offer social services to the child who is the subject of the report and his or her family 

and may file a petition in the juvenile court or the district court with juvenile jurisdiction on behalf of such child. If, before the 

investigation is completed, the opinion of the investigators is that assistance of the local law enforcement agency is necessary for 

the protection of the child or other children under the same care, the local law enforcement agency shall be notified. If immediate 

removal is necessary to protect the child or other children under the same care from further abuse, the child or children may be 

placed in protective custody in accordance with §§ 19-3-401(1)(a) and 19-3-405.

If a local law enforcement agency receives a report of a known or suspected incident of intrafamilial abuse or neglect, it immediately 

shall attempt to contact the county department in order to refer the case for investigation. If the local law enforcement agency 

is unable to contact the county department, it immediately shall make a complete investigation and may institute appropriate 

legal proceedings on behalf of the subject child or other children under the same care. As a part of an investigation, the local law 

enforcement agency shall have access to the records and reports of child abuse or neglect maintained by the State department 

for information under the name of the child or the suspected perpetrator. The local law enforcement agency, upon the receipt of a 

report and upon completion of any investigation it may undertake, immediately shall forward a summary of the investigatory data 

plus all relevant documents to the county department.
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Rev. Stat. § 19-3-308(4)(c)

Upon the receipt of a report, if the county department assessment concludes that a child has been a victim of intrafamilial, 

institutional, or third-party abuse or neglect in which he or she has been subjected to human trafficking of a minor for sexual 

servitude as described in § 18-3-504 or commercial sexual exploitation of a child, it shall, when necessary and appropriate, 

immediately offer social services to the child who is the subject of the report and to his or her family, and it may file a petition in 

the juvenile court or the district court with juvenile jurisdiction on behalf of such child. If, at any time after the commencement of 

an investigation, the county department has reasonable cause to suspect that the child or any other child under the same care 

is a victim of human trafficking, the county department shall notify the local law enforcement agency as soon as it is reasonably 

practicable to do so. If immediate removal is necessary to protect the child or other children under the same care from further abuse, 

the child or children may be placed in protective custody in accordance with §§ 19-3-401(1)(a) and 19-3-405. In instances of thirdparty abuse or neglect as it relates to human trafficking, a county department of social services may, but is not required to, interview 

the person alleged to be responsible for the abuse or neglect or prepare an investigative report. If a county department elects to 

interview the third-party individual, it shall first confer with its local law enforcement agency.

Connecticut

Gen. Stat. § 17a-101b(c)

If the Commissioner of Children and Families, or the commissioner's designee, receives a report alleging sexual abuse or serious 

physical abuse, including, but not limited to, a report that (1) a child has died; (2) a child has been sexually assaulted; (3) a child has 

suffered brain damage or loss or serious impairment of a bodily function or organ; (4) a child has been sexually exploited; or (5) a 

child has suffered serious nonaccidental physical injury, the commissioner, within 12 hours of receipt of such report, shall notify the 

appropriate law enforcement agency.

Gen. Stat. § 17a-101h

Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes to the contrary, any person authorized to conduct an investigation of abuse or 

neglect shall coordinate investigatory activities in order to minimize the number of interviews of any child and share information with 

other persons authorized to conduct an investigation of child abuse or neglect, as appropriate.

Delaware

Ann. Code Tit. 16, § 906(d), (e)(3)-(4), (17) 

In implementing law enforcement's role in the child protection system, the law enforcement agency investigating a report of child 

abuse shall:

• Report every case of child abuse to the Division of Family Services, as required by § 903 of this title

• Provide information as necessary to the investigation coordinator to permit case tracking, monitoring, and reporting by the 

investigation coordinator

The division may investigate any report, but shall conduct an investigation involving all reports that, if true, would constitute 

violations against a child by a person responsible for the care, custody, and control of the child or an attempt to commit any 

such crimes. Division staff also shall contact the Delaware Department of Justice and the appropriate law enforcement agency 

upon receipt of a report and shall provide such agency with a detailed description of the report received. The appropriate law 

enforcement agency shall assist the division in the investigation or provide the division, within a reasonable time, an explanation 

detailing the reasons why it is unable to assist. To the extent the law enforcement agency with jurisdiction over the case is unable 

to assist, the division may request that the Delaware State Police exercise jurisdiction over the case, and upon such request, the 

Delaware State police may exercise such jurisdiction.

The assisting law enforcement agency promptly shall conduct its own criminal investigation and keep the division regularly 

apprised of the status and findings of its investigation. Law enforcement agencies and the division shall develop protocols to ensure 

compliance with this subsection.

Multidisciplinary services shall be used whenever possible in conducting the investigation or family assessment and services 

approach, including the services of law enforcement agencies, the medical community, and other agencies, both public and private.
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District of Columbia

Ann. Code § 4-1301.05(a)-(b) 

The police, as soon as possible after receipt of a report of a neglected child other than an abused child, shall inform the agency of its 

contents and any action the police are taking or have taken.

Upon receipt of a report of an abused child, the police may inform the agency of its contents. When the report is a substantiated 

report, the police shall inform the agency of its contents and any action they are taking or have taken as soon as possible.

Florida

Ann. Stat. § 39.301(2)(a), (c) 

The Department of Children and Family Services shall forward immediately allegations of criminal conduct to the municipal or county 

law enforcement agency of the municipality or county in which the alleged conduct has occurred.

Upon receiving a written report of an allegation of criminal conduct from the department, the law enforcement agency shall review 

the information in the written report to determine whether a criminal investigation is warranted. If the law enforcement agency 

accepts the case for criminal investigation, it shall coordinate its investigative activities with the department, whenever feasible. If the 

law enforcement agency does not accept the case for criminal investigation, the agency shall notify the department in writing.

Georgia

Ann. Code § 19-7-5(e)

If a report of child abuse is made to the child welfare agency or independently discovered by the agency, and the agency has 

reasonable cause to believe such report is true or the report contains any allegation or evidence of child abuse, then the agency 

immediately shall notify the appropriate police authority or district attorney.

Guam

Ann. Code Tit. 19, § 13203(b) 

Child Protective Services, immediately or as soon as practicably possible, shall report by telephone to the Guam Police Department 

and to the attorney general's office every known or suspected instance of child abuse, except acts or omissions coming under § 

13101(t)(4) [concerning neglect]. Child Protective Services also shall send a written report within 48 hours of receiving information 

concerning the incident to any agency to which it is required to make a telephone report.

The Guam Police Department, immediately or as soon as practicably possible, shall report by telephone to Child Protective Services 

and to the attorney general's office every known or suspected instance of child abuse reported to it, except acts or omissions 

coming under § 13101(t)(4) [concerning neglect], which only shall be reported to Child Protective Services. However, the Guam Police 

Department shall report to Child Protective Services every known or suspected instance of child abuse reported to it that is alleged 

to have occurred as a result of the inaction of a person responsible for the child's welfare to adequately protect the minor from abuse 

when such person knew or reasonably should have known that the minor was in danger of abuse. The Guam Police Department also 

shall send a written report within 48 hours of receiving the information concerning the incident to any agency to which it is required 

to make a telephone report.

Child Protective Services and the Guam Police Department, immediately or as soon as practicably possible, shall report by 

telephone to the appropriate Department of Defense Family Advocacy Program every known or suspected instance of child abuse 

reported to them when such report involves active duty military personnel or their dependents.

Hawaii

Rev. Stat. § 350-2(b)-(c)

The Department of Human Services shall inform the appropriate police department of all reports received by the department 

regarding a case of child abuse or neglect, including reports received under § 350-1.1, provided that the name of the person who 

reported the case of child abuse or neglect shall be released to the police department pursuant only to court order or the person's 

consent.
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The department shall inform the appropriate police department or office of the prosecuting attorney of the relevant information 

concerning a case of child abuse or neglect when such information is required by the police department or the office of the 

prosecuting attorney for the investigation of that case—provided that the name of the person who reported the case of child abuse 

or neglect shall be released only to a police department or an office of the prosecuting attorney pursuant to court order or the 

person's consent.

Rev. Stat. § 350-1.1(c) 

If a police department or the Department of Public Safety is the initiating agency, a written report shall be filed with the Department 

of Human Services for cases that the police or Department of Public Safety takes further action on or for active cases in the 

Department of Human Services under this chapter.

Idaho

Idaho Code § 16-1605(1) 

Any [mandated reporter] or other person having reason to believe that a child under age 18 years has been abused, abandoned, 

or neglected, or who observes the child being subjected to conditions or circumstances that would reasonably result in abuse, 

abandonment, or neglect, shall report or cause to be reported within 24 hours such conditions or circumstances to the proper law 

enforcement agency or the Department of Health and Welfare. The department shall be informed by law enforcement of any report 

made directly to it.

Illinois

Comp. Stat. Ch. 325, § 5/7 

Reports made to the central register through the statewide, toll-free telephone number shall be transmitted immediately by the 

Department of Children and Family Services to the appropriate Child Protective Service Unit. All such reports alleging the death 

of a child; serious injury to a child, including, but not limited to, brain damage, skull fractures, subdural hematomas, and internal 

injuries; torture of a child; malnutrition of a child; and sexual abuse of a child, including, but not limited to sexual intercourse, sexual 

exploitation, sexual molestation, and sexually transmitted disease in a child age 12 and under, shall also be transmitted immediately 

by the department to the appropriate local law enforcement agency.

Within 24 hours, the department shall orally notify local law enforcement personnel and the Office of the State's Attorney of the 

involved county of the receipt of any report alleging the death of a child; serious injury to a child, including, but not limited to brain 

damage, skull fractures, subdural hematomas, and internal injuries; torture of a child; malnutrition of a child; and sexual abuse of a 

child, including, but not limited to sexual intercourse, sexual exploitation, sexual molestation, and sexually transmitted disease in a 

child age 12 and under.

All oral reports made by the department to local law enforcement personnel and the Office of the State's Attorney of the involved 

county shall be confirmed in writing within 24 hours of the oral report.

Indiana

Ann. Code § 31-33-7-5 

A copy of the written report from the Department of Child Services immediately shall be made available to:

• The appropriate law enforcement agency 

• The prosecuting attorney

• In a case involving death, the coroner for the coroner's consideration

Ann. Code § 31-33-7-7

When a law enforcement agency receives an initial report under the reporting law that a child may be a victim of child abuse or 

neglect, the law enforcement agency shall:

• Immediately communicate the report to the Department of Child Services, whether or not the law enforcement agency has 

reason to believe there exists an imminent danger to the child's health or welfare

• Conduct an immediate onsite assessment of the report along with the department whenever the law enforcement agency has 

reason to believe that an offense has been committed
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In all cases, the law enforcement agency shall forward any information (including copies of assessment reports) on incidents of cases 

in which a child may be a victim of child abuse or neglect, whether or not obtained under the reporting laws, to the department and 

the juvenile court.

Iowa

Ann. Code § 232.70(5), (7), (9), (10)

Upon receipt of a report, the Department of Human Services shall do all of the following:

• Immediately make a determination as to whether the report constitutes an allegation of child abuse as defined in § 232.68

• Notify the appropriate county attorney of the receipt of the report

If the report is made to any agency other than the department of human services, such agency shall promptly refer the report to the 

department.

If a report would be determined to constitute an allegation of child abuse as defined under § 232.68(2)(a), (3), or (5), except that 

the suspected abuse resulted from the acts or omissions of a person other than a person responsible for the care of the child, the 

department shall refer the report to the appropriate law enforcement agency having jurisdiction to investigate the allegation. The 

department shall refer the report orally as soon as practicable and in writing within 72 hours of receiving the report.

If the department has reasonable cause to believe that a child under the placement, care, or supervision of the department is, or is at 

risk of becoming, a sex trafficking victim, the department shall do all of the following:

• Identify the child as a sex trafficking victim or at risk of becoming a sex trafficking victim and include documentation in the 

child's department records

• Refer the child for appropriate services

• Refer the child identified as a sex trafficking victim, within 24 hours, to the appropriate law enforcement agency having 

jurisdiction to investigate the allegation

Kansas

Ann. Stat. § 38-2226(a), (b) 

The secretary and law enforcement officers shall have the duty to receive and investigate reports of child abuse or neglect for the 

purpose of determining whether the report is valid and whether action is required to protect a child. Any person or agency that 

maintains records relating to the involved child that are relevant to an investigation shall provide the secretary or law enforcement 

agency with the necessary records to assist in investigations. In order to provide such records, the person or agency maintaining 

the records shall receive from the secretary or law enforcement (1) a written request for information and (2) a written notice that the 

investigation is being conducted by the secretary or law enforcement. If the secretary and such officers determine that no action 

is necessary to protect the child but that a criminal prosecution should be considered, such law enforcement officers shall make a 

report of the case to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

When a report of child abuse or neglect indicates (1) that there is serious physical harm to, serious deterioration of, or sexual abuse 

of the child and (2) that action may be required to protect the child, the investigation shall be conducted as a joint effort between the 

secretary and the appropriate law enforcement agency or agencies with a free exchange of information between them. If a statement 

of a suspect is obtained by either agency, a copy of the statement shall be provided to the other.

Ann. Stat. § 38-2226(c), (d)

Suspected child abuse or neglect that occurs in an institution operated by the Kansas Department of Corrections shall be 

investigated by the attorney general or the Secretary of Corrections. Any suspected child abuse or neglect in an institution operated 

by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, or by persons employed by the Kansas Department for Aging and 

Disability Services or the Kansas Department for Children and Families, or of children of persons employed by either department, 

shall be investigated by the appropriate law enforcement agency.

If a dispute develops between agencies investigating a reported case of child abuse or neglect, the appropriate county or district 

attorney shall take charge of, direct, and coordinate the investigation.

Law enforcement agencies and the secretary shall assist each other in taking action that is necessary to protect a child, regardless of 

which agency conducted the initial investigation.
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Ann. Stat. § 38-2223(c) 

Reports made pursuant to this section shall be made to the secretary, except as follows:

• When the Kansas Department for Children and Families is not open for business, reports shall be made to the appropriate law 

enforcement agency. On the next day that the department is open for business, the law enforcement agency shall report to 

the department any report received and any investigation initiated pursuant to § 38-2226. The reports may be made orally or, 

on request of the secretary, in writing.

• Reports of child abuse or neglect occurring in an institution operated by the Kansas Department of Corrections shall be made 

to the attorney general or the Secretary of Corrections.

• Reports of child abuse or neglect occurring in an institution operated by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability 

Services shall be made to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

• All other reports of child abuse or neglect by persons employed by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services 

or the Kansas Department for Children and Families, or of children of persons employed by either department, shall be made 

to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

Kentucky

Rev. Stat. § 620.040(1)(c)-(d), (2)(c), (3)

Within 72 hours [of the receipt of a report alleging abuse or neglect by a parent, guardian, or person exercising custodial control 

or supervision], exclusive of weekends and holidays, the Cabinet of Health and Family Services shall make a written report to the 

Commonwealth's or county attorney and the local enforcement agency or the Kentucky State Police concerning the action that has 

been taken on the investigation.

If the report alleges abuse or neglect by someone other than a parent, guardian, or person exercising custodial control or 

supervision, or the human trafficking of a child, the cabinet shall immediately notify the Commonwealth's or county attorney and the 

local law enforcement agency or the State police.

The cabinet need not notify the local law enforcement agency or the State police or county attorney or Commonwealth's attorney of 

reports made under this subsection unless the report involves the human trafficking of a child, in which case the notification shall be 

required.

If the cabinet or its designated representative receives a report of abuse by a person other than a parent, guardian, or other person 

exercising custodial control or supervision of a child, it shall immediately notify the local law enforcement agency or the State police 

and the Commonwealth's or county attorney of the receipt of the report and its contents, and they shall investigate the matter. The 

cabinet or its designated representative shall participate in an investigation of noncustodial physical abuse or neglect at the request 

of the local law enforcement agency or the State police. The cabinet shall participate in all investigations of reported or suspected 

sexual abuse or human trafficking of a child.

Rev. Stat. § 620.030(1), (4) 

If the Cabinet of Health and Family Services receives a report of abuse or neglect allegedly committed by a person other than a 

parent, guardian, or person exercising custodial control or supervision, the cabinet shall refer that matter to the Commonwealth's 

attorney or the county attorney and the local law enforcement agency or the Kentucky State Police. Nothing in this section shall 

relieve individuals of their obligation to report.

The cabinet upon request shall receive from any agency of the State or any other agency, institution, or facility providing services 

to the child or his or her family, such cooperation, assistance, and information as will enable the cabinet to fulfill its responsibilities 

under the law.

Louisiana

Children's Code Art. 610(E) 

All reports made to any local or State law enforcement agency involving abuse or neglect in which the child's parent or caregiver, 

a person who maintains an interpersonal dating or engagement relationship with the parent or caregiver, or a person living in the 

same residence with the parent or caregiver as a spouse, whether married or not, is believed responsible shall be communicated 

promptly to the Department of Social Services through the designated State child protection reporting hotline telephone number in 

accordance with a written working agreement developed between the local law enforcement agency and the department.
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The department shall communicate promptly cases of abuse or neglect not involving a parent, caregiver, or occupant of the 

household to the appropriate law enforcement agency in accordance with a written working agreement developed between the 

department and law enforcement agency. The department also shall report all cases of child death that involve a suspicion of abuse 

or neglect as a contributing factor in the child's death to the local and State law enforcement agencies, the Office of the District 

Attorney, and the coroner.

Reports involving a felony-grade crime against a child shall be communicated promptly to the appropriate law enforcement 

authorities as part of the interagency protocols for multidisciplinary investigations of child abuse and neglect in each judicial district, 

as provided in Children's Code Articles 509 and 510.

Maine

Rev. Stat. Tit. 22, § 4011-A(1), (2) 

Persons [who are mandated by law to report] shall report immediately or cause a report to be made to the Department of Health 

and Human Services when the person knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been or is likely to be abused or 

neglected.

When, while acting in a professional capacity, any person required to report who knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that a 

child has been abused or neglected by a person not responsible for the child, the person immediately shall report or cause a report 

to be made to the appropriate district attorney's office.

Maryland

Fam. Law § 5-704(b) 

An individual who notifies the appropriate authorities under this section shall make:

• An oral report, by telephone or direct communication, as soon as possible to the local department or appropriate law 

enforcement agency

• A written report to the local department no later than 48 hours after the contact, examination, attention, or treatment that 

caused the individual to believe that the child had been subjected to abuse or neglect with a copy given to the local State's 

attorney

An agency to which an oral report of suspected abuse or neglect is made immediately shall notify the other agency. This paragraph 

does not prohibit a local department and an appropriate law enforcement agency from agreeing to cooperative arrangements.

Massachusetts

Gen. Laws Ch. 119, § 51B(k) 

The department shall notify and shall transmit copies of substantiated 51A reports and its written evaluations and determinations 

to the district attorney for the county in which the child resides and in which the suspected abuse or neglect occurred, and to the 

local law enforcement authorities in the city or town in which the child resides and in which the suspected abuse or neglect occurred, 

when the department has reasonable cause to believe that one of the conditions listed below resulted from abuse or neglect.

The department immediately shall report to the district attorney and local law enforcement authorities listed above when early 

evidence indicates there is reasonable cause to believe that one of the conditions listed below resulted from abuse or neglect:

• A child has died or has suffered brain damage, loss or substantial impairment of a bodily function or organ, substantial 

disfigurement, or serious physical injury, including, but not limited to, a fracture of any bone, a severe burn, an impairment of 

any organ, or an injury requiring the child to be placed on life-support systems.

• A child has been sexually assaulted.

• A child has been sexually exploited, is a sexually exploited child, or a child who is otherwise a human trafficking victim.

• Any other disclosure of physical abuse involving physical evidence that may be destroyed, any current disclosure by a child of 

sexual assault, or the presence of physical evidence of sexual assault.

No provision relating to confidential data or confidential communications shall prohibit the department from making such 

notifications or from providing to the district attorney or local law enforcement authorities any information obtained under this 

section. Nothing herein shall be construed to prevent the department from notifying a district attorney relative to any incident 

reported to the department under § 51A or to limit the prosecutorial power of a district attorney.
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Gen. Laws Ch. 119, § 51B(l) 

If the department substantiates a report alleging that abuse or neglect occurred at a facility approved, owned, operated, or 

funded, in whole or in part, by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of Early Education and Care, 

Department of Mental Health, Department of Developmental Services, Department of Public Health, or Department of Youth 

Services, the department shall notify the Office of the Child Advocate and the affected department, in writing, by transmitting a 

copy of the report filed under § 51A and the department's written evaluation and written determination.

If the department substantiates a report alleging that abuse or neglect was committed by an individual who was employed at a 

facility approved or licensed by the Department of Early Education and Care, then the department shall notify the Office of the Child 

Advocate and the Department of Early Education and Care, in writing, by transmitting a copy of the report filed under § 51A and the 

department's written evaluation and written determination.

If the department is aware of a licensing violation in any such facility, the department shall immediately notify the affected 

department.

No provision of law shall prohibit:

• The department from transmitting copies of reports filed under section 51A or its written evaluations and written 

determinations to the Office of the Child Advocate or the affected departments

• The department, the Office of the Child Advocate, and the affected departments from coordinating activities and sharing 

information for the purposes of this section or for investigating a licensing violation

• The department's employees from testifying at administrative hearings held by the affected department in connection with a 

licensing violation

Michigan

Comp. Laws § 722.623(b)(7) 

If a local law enforcement agency receives an allegation or written report of suspected child abuse or child neglect or discovers 

evidence of or receives a report of an individual allowing a child to be exposed to or to have contact with methamphetamine 

production, and the allegation, written report, or subsequent investigation indicates that the child abuse or child neglect or allowing 

a child to be exposed to or to have contact with methamphetamine production was committed by a person responsible for the 

child's health or welfare, the local law enforcement agency shall refer the allegation or provide a copy of the written report and the 

results of any investigation to the county department of the county in which the abused or neglected child is found. If an allegation, 

written report, or subsequent investigation indicates that the individual who committed the suspected child abuse or child neglect 

or allowed a child to be exposed to or to have contact with methamphetamine production is a child care provider and the local 

law enforcement agency believes that the report has basis in fact, the local law enforcement agency shall transmit a copy of the 

written report or the results of the investigation to the child care regulatory agency with authority over the child care provider's child 

care organization or adult foster care location authorized to care for a child. Nothing in this section relieves the department of its 

responsibilities to investigate reports of suspected child abuse or child neglect under this act.

Comp. Laws § 722.623(b)(5)-(6) 

Upon receipt of a written report of suspected child abuse or child neglect, the Department of Health and Human Services may 

provide copies to the prosecuting attorney and the probate court of the counties in which the child suspected of being abused or 

neglected resides and is found.

If an allegation, written report, or subsequent investigation of suspected child abuse or child neglect indicates a violation of penal 

code sections 750.136b [child abuse], 750.145c [child sexual abuse or exploitation], 750.462a to 750.462h [human trafficking], and 

750.520b to 750.520g [criminal sexual conduct]; or public health code section 333.7401c [manufacture of a controlled substance] 

involving methamphetamine has occurred, or if the allegation, written report, or subsequent investigation indicates that the 

suspected child abuse or child neglect was committed by an individual who is not a person responsible for the child's health or 

welfare, including, but not limited to, a member of the clergy, a teacher, or a teacher's aide, the department shall transmit a copy of 

the allegation or written report and the results of any investigation to a law enforcement agency in the county in which the incident 

occurred. If an allegation, written report, or subsequent investigation indicates that the individual who committed the suspected 

child abuse or child neglect is a child care provider and the department believes that the report has basis in fact, the department 

shall, within 24 hours of completion, transmit a copy of the written report or the results of the investigation to the child care 

regulatory agency with authority over the child care provider's child care organization or adult foster care location authorized to care 

for a child.
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Minnesota

Ann. Stat. § 626.556, Subd. 10(a), (b)(5), 10a(a)-(b) 

If the report alleges a violation of a criminal statute involving sexual abuse, physical abuse, or neglect or endangerment under § 

609.378, the local law enforcement agency and local welfare agency shall coordinate the planning and execution of their respective 

investigation and assessment efforts to avoid a duplication of fact-finding efforts and multiple interviews. Each agency shall prepare 

a separate report of the results of its investigation or assessment. In cases of alleged child maltreatment resulting in death, the 

local agency may rely on the fact-finding efforts of a law enforcement investigation to make a determination of whether or not 

maltreatment occurred.

If the report alleges neglect, physical abuse, or sexual abuse by a person who is not a parent, guardian, sibling, person responsible 

for the child's care functioning within the family unit, or a person who lives in the child's household and who has a significant 

relationship to the child, in a setting other than a facility as defined in subdivision 2, the local welfare agency shall immediately notify 

the appropriate law enforcement agency, which shall conduct an investigation of the alleged abuse or neglect if a violation of a 

criminal statute is alleged.

The local agency may rely on the fact-finding efforts of the law enforcement investigation conducted under this subdivision to make 

a determination whether or not threatened injury or other maltreatment has occurred if an alleged offender has minor children or 

lives with minors.

Ann. Stat. § 626.556, Subd. 3 & 7 

The police department or the county sheriff shall immediately notify the local welfare agency or agency responsible for child 

protection reports under this section orally and in writing when a report is received. The local welfare agency or agency responsible 

for child protection reports shall immediately notify the local police department or the county sheriff orally and in writing when a 

report is received. The county sheriff and the head of every local welfare agency, agency responsible for child protection reports, 

and police department shall each designate a person within their agency, department, or office who is responsible for ensuring that 

the notification duties of this paragraph are carried out. When the alleged maltreatment occurred on Tribal land, the local welfare 

agency or agency responsible for child protection reports and the local police department or the county sheriff shall immediately 

notify the Tribe's social services agency and Tribal law enforcement orally and in writing when a report is received.

Upon receipt of a report, the local welfare agency shall determine whether to conduct a family assessment or an investigation 

as appropriate to prevent or provide a remedy for child maltreatment. The local welfare agency shall provide immediate notice, 

according to § 260.761, subdivision 2, to an Indian child's Tribe when the agency has reason to believe the family assessment or 

investigation may involve an Indian child. For purposes of this clause, 'immediate notice' means notice provided within 24 hours.

Mississippi

Ann. Code § 43-21-353(1), (8)

Upon receiving a report that a child has been sexually abused, burned, tortured, mutilated, or otherwise physically abused in such a 

manner as to cause serious bodily harm, or upon receiving any report of abuse that would be a felony under State or Federal law, the 

Department of Human Services immediately shall notify the law enforcement agency in whose jurisdiction the abuse occurred and 

shall notify the appropriate prosecutor within 48 hours.

The department shall have the duty to provide the law enforcement agency all the names and facts known at the time of the report; 

this duty shall be of a continuing nature. The law enforcement agency and the department shall investigate the reported abuse 

immediately, file a preliminary report with the appropriate prosecutor's office within 24 hours, and make additional reports as new or 

additional information or evidence becomes available. The department shall advise the clerk of the youth court and the youth court 

prosecutor of all cases of abuse reported to the department within 72 hours and shall update such report as information becomes 

available.

If a report is made directly to the department that a child has been abused or neglected in an out-of-home setting, a referral shall be 

made immediately to the law enforcement agency in whose jurisdiction the abuse occurred, and the department shall the notify the 

district attorney's office within 48 hours of such report.
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Missouri

Ann. Stat. § 210.145(5), (6), (11) 

The local office shall contact the appropriate law enforcement agency immediately upon receipt of a report that division personnel 

determine merits an investigation and provide such agency with a detailed description of the report received. In such cases, the local 

division office shall request the assistance of the local law enforcement agency in all aspects of the investigation of the complaint. 

The appropriate law enforcement agency shall either assist the division in the investigation or provide the division, within 24 hours, 

an explanation in writing detailing the reasons why it is unable to assist.

The local office of the division shall cause an investigation or family assessment and services approach to be initiated in accordance 

with the protocols established in § 210.145(2), except in cases where the sole basis for the report is educational neglect. If the report 

indicates the child is in danger of serious physical harm or threat to life, an investigation shall include direct observation of the 

subject child within 24 hours of the receipt of the report. Local law enforcement shall take all necessary steps to facilitate such direct 

observation.

Multidisciplinary teams shall be used whenever conducting the investigation as determined by the division in conjunction with local 

law enforcement. Multidisciplinary teams shall be used in providing protective or preventive social services, including the services 

of law enforcement, a liaison of the local public school, the juvenile officer, the juvenile court, and other agencies, both public and 

private.

Montana

Ann. Code § 41-3-202(1)

Upon receipt of a report that a child is or has been abused or neglected, the Department of Public Health and Human Services 

promptly shall assess the information contained in the report and make a determination regarding the level of response required and 

the timeframe within which action must be initiated. If the department determines that an investigation is required, a social worker, 

the county attorney, or a peace officer promptly shall conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the 

allegations of abuse or neglect of the child.

Nebraska

Rev. Stat. § 28-713(1), (4), (5) 

Unless a report is assigned to alternative response, upon the receipt of a call reporting child abuse and neglect, it is the duty of the 

law enforcement agency to investigate the report, to take immediate steps to protect the child, and to institute legal proceedings 

if appropriate. In situations of alleged out-of-home child abuse or neglect, if the person or persons to be notified have not already 

been notified and the person to be notified is not the subject of the report of child abuse or neglect, the law enforcement agency 

immediately shall notify the person or persons having custody of each child who has allegedly been abused or neglected that such 

report of alleged child abuse or neglect has been made and shall provide such person or persons with information of the nature of 

the alleged child abuse or neglect.

The law enforcement agency may request assistance from the department during the investigation and, by the next working 

day, shall notify either the hotline or the department of receipt of the report, including whether or not an investigation is being 

undertaken by the law enforcement agency. A copy of all reports, whether or not an investigation is being undertaken, shall be 

provided to the department.

By the next working day after receiving a report of child abuse or neglect, the department shall make a written report or a summary 

on forms provided by the department to the proper law enforcement agency in the county and enter in the tracking system of child 

protection cases maintained pursuant to § 28-715 all reports of child abuse or neglect opened for investigation and any action taken.

Upon request, the department shall make a copy of all reports relative to a case of suspected child abuse or neglect available to the 

appropriate investigating law enforcement agency and the county attorney.

Rev. Stat. § 28-711 

Law enforcement agencies receiving any reports of child abuse or neglect under this subsection shall notify the Department of 

Health and Human Services the next working day by phone or mail.
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The department shall establish a statewide toll-free number to be used by any person any hour of the day or night, any day of the 

week, to make reports of child abuse or neglect. Reports of child abuse or neglect not previously made to or by a law enforcement 

agency shall be made immediately to such agency by the department.

Nevada

Rev. Stat. § 432B.260(1), (9) 

Upon the receipt of a report concerning the possible abuse or neglect of a child, an agency that provides child welfare services or 

a law enforcement agency promptly shall notify the appropriate licensing authority, if any. A law enforcement agency promptly shall 

notify an agency that provides child welfare services of any report it receives.

An agency that provides child welfare services and a law enforcement agency shall cooperate in the investigation, if any, of a report 

of abuse or neglect of a child.

New Hampshire

Rev. Stat. § 169-C:38 (I)-(II)

The Department of Health and Human Services immediately, by telephone or in person, shall refer all cases in which there is reason 

to believe that any person under age 18 has been sexually molested, sexually exploited, intentionally physically injured so as to 

cause serious bodily injury, physically injured by other than accidental means so as to cause serious bodily injury, and/or is a victim 

of a crime to the local law enforcement agency in the community in which the acts of abuse are believed to have occurred. The 

department also shall make a written report to the law enforcement agency within 48 hours, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and 

holidays. A copy of this report shall be sent to the office of the county attorney.

All law enforcement personnel and department employees shall cooperate in limiting the number of interviews of a child victim 

and, when appropriate, shall conduct joint interviews of the child. Employees of the department shall share with the investigating 

police officers all information in their possession that is lawful for them to disclose to a law enforcement agency. Investigating police 

officers shall not use or reveal any confidential information shared with them by the department except to the extent necessary for 

the investigation and prosecution of the case. 

Rev. Stat. § 169-C:38-a 

The Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Justice shall develop jointly a standardized protocol for the 

interviewing of victims and the investigation and assessment of cases of child abuse and neglect. The protocol shall seek to minimize 

the impact on the victim. The protocol also shall be designed to protect the rights of all parties affected. The protocol shall address 

specifically the need to establish safe and appropriate places for interviewing children.

New Jersey

Ann. Stat. § 9:6-8.11

Upon receipt of any such report, the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, or other such entity in the Department of Children 

and Families as may be designated by the Commissioner of Children and Families to investigate child abuse or neglect, immediately 

shall take such action as shall be necessary to ensure the safety of the child and to that end may request and shall receive 

appropriate assistance from local and State law enforcement officials.

A representative of the division or other designated entity shall initiate an investigation within 24 hours of receipt of the report, 

unless the division or other entity authorizes a delay based upon the request of a law enforcement official. The division or other 

entity also shall forward a report of such matter within 72 hours to the child abuse registry operated by the division in Trenton.

Ann. Stat. § 9:6-8.10a(e) 

For incidents determined by the Department of Children and Families to be substantiated, the department shall forward to the 

police or law enforcement agency in whose jurisdiction the child named in the report resides the identities of the persons alleged to 

have committed child abuse or neglect and of the victims of child abuse or neglect, their addresses, the nature of the allegations, 

and other relevant information, including, but not limited to, prior reports of abuse or neglect and the names of siblings obtained by 

the department during its investigation of a report of child abuse or neglect. The police or law enforcement agency shall keep such 

information confidential.
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New Mexico

Ann. Stat. § 32A-4-3(B) 

Any law enforcement agency receiving the report immediately shall transmit the facts of the report and the name, address, and 

phone number of the reporter by telephone to the Children, Youth and Families Department and shall transmit the same information 

in writing within 48 hours.

The department immediately shall transmit the facts of the report and the name, address, and phone number of the reporter to a 

local law enforcement agency by telephone and shall transmit the same information in writing within 48 hours.

New York

Soc. Serv. Law § 423(6) 

A social services district may establish a multidisciplinary investigative team or teams and may establish or work as part of a child 

advocacy center, at a local or regional level, for the purpose of investigating reports of suspected child abuse or maltreatment.

The social services district shall have discretion with regard to the category or categories of suspected child abuse or maltreatment 

such team or teams may investigate, provided, however, that the social services district shall place particular emphasis on cases 

involving the abuse of a child, sexual abuse of a child, or the death of a child. Members of multidisciplinary teams shall include but 

not be limited to representatives from the following agencies:

• Child protective services 

• Law enforcement

• The district attorney's office

• A physician or medical provider trained in forensic pediatrics

• Mental health professionals

• Victim advocacy personnel

• A child advocacy center, if one exists

Members of the multidisciplinary team primarily responsible for the investigation of child abuse reports, including child protective 

services, law enforcement, and the district attorney's office, shall participate in joint interviews and conduct investigative functions 

consistent with the mission of the particular agency member involved.

North Carolina

Gen. Stat. § 7B-307 

If the director of the Department of Social Services finds evidence that a juvenile may have been abused, the director shall make 

an immediate oral and subsequent written report of the findings to the district attorney or the district attorney's designee and the 

appropriate local law enforcement agency within 48 hours after receipt of the report.

The local law enforcement agency immediately, but no later than 48 hours after receipt of a report of abuse, shall initiate and 

coordinate a criminal investigation with the protective services assessment being conducted by the county Department of Social 

Services. Upon completion of the investigation, the district attorney shall determine whether criminal prosecution is appropriate and 

may request the director or the director's designee to appear before a magistrate.

If the director of the Department of Social Services receives information that a juvenile may have been physically harmed in violation 

of any criminal statute by any person other than the juvenile's parent, guardian, custodian, or caregiver, the director shall make an 

immediate oral report and subsequent written report of that information to the district attorney or the district attorney's designee 

and to the appropriate local law enforcement agency within 48 hours after receipt of the information.

The local law enforcement agency shall initiate a criminal investigation immediately, but no later than 48 hours, after receipt of the 

information. Upon completion of the investigation, the district attorney shall determine whether criminal prosecution is appropriate.
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North Dakota

Cent. Code § 50-25.1-05 

The Department of Human Services, in accordance with rules adopted by the department, immediately shall initiate or cause to 

be initiated an assessment of any report of child abuse or neglect including (when appropriate) the assessment of the home or the 

residence of the child, any school or child care facility attended by the child, and the circumstances surrounding the report of abuse 

or neglect.

If the report alleges a violation of a criminal statute involving sexual or physical abuse, the department and an appropriate law 

enforcement agency shall coordinate the planning and execution of their investigation efforts to avoid a duplication of fact-finding 

efforts and multiple interviews. The department or the law enforcement agency may:

• Refer the case to a children's advocacy center for a forensic interview, forensic medical examination, and other services

• Interview, without the consent of a person responsible for the child's welfare, the alleged abused or neglected child and 

any other child who currently resides or who has resided with the person responsible for the child's welfare or the alleged 

perpetrator

• Conduct the interview at a school, child care facility, or any other place where the alleged abused or neglected child or other 

child is found

The department shall adopt guidelines for case referrals to a children's advocacy center. When cases are referred to a children's 

advocacy center, all interviews of the alleged abused or neglected child conducted at the children's advocacy center under this 

section shall be audio or video recorded.

Northern Mariana Islands

Commonwealth Code Tit. 6, § 5313(b) 

The Department of Public Safety promptly shall notify the Office of the Attorney General and the Division of Youth Services of all 

reported cases of child abuse, neglect, and sexual molestation. This notification shall be made within 24 hours.

Ohio

Rev. Code § 2151.421(D)

When a municipal or county peace officer receives a report concerning the possible abuse or neglect of a child or the possible threat 

of abuse or neglect of a child, the municipal or county peace officer who receives the report shall refer the report to the appropriate 

public children services agency.

When a public children services agency receives a report pursuant to this division or division (A) or (B) of this section, upon receipt of 

the report, the public children services agency shall do both of the following:

• It shall comply with § 2151.422 [concerning procedures to follow if the child is living in a domestic violence or homeless shelter].

• If the county served by the agency also is served by a children's advocacy center and the report alleges sexual abuse of a child 

or another type of abuse of a child that is specified in the memorandum of understanding that creates the center as being 

within the center's jurisdiction, the agency shall comply with the protocol and procedures for referrals and investigations, 

with the coordinating activities, and with the authority or responsibility for performing or providing functions, activities, and 

services stipulated in the interagency agreement entered into under § 2151.428 relative to that center.

Rev. Code § 2151.428(F) 

Except as provided by statute or in an interagency agreement entered into under § 2151.428 that applies to the particular report, the 

public children services agency shall investigate, within 24 hours, each report of known or suspected child abuse or child neglect and 

of a known or suspected threat of child abuse or child neglect that is referred to it to determine the circumstances surrounding the 

injuries, abuse, or neglect or the threat of injury, abuse, or neglect; the cause of the injuries, abuse, neglect, or threat; and the person 

or persons responsible.

The investigation shall be made in cooperation with the law enforcement agency and in accordance with the memorandum of 

understanding prepared under § 2151.428(J). A representative of the public children services agency shall, at the time of initial 

contact with the person subject to the investigation, inform the person of the specific complaints or allegations made against the 

person. The information shall be given in a manner that is consistent with § 2151.428(H)(1) and protects the rights of the person 

making the report.
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The public children services agency shall report each case to a central registry that the Department of Job and Family Services shall 

maintain in order to determine whether prior reports have been made in other counties concerning the child or other principals in 

the case. The public children services agency shall submit a report of its investigation, in writing, to the law enforcement agency.

The public children services agency shall make any recommendations to the county prosecuting attorney or city director of law that it 

considers necessary to protect any children that are brought to its attention.

Oklahoma

Ann. Stat. Tit. 10A, § 1-2-102(B)(3), (C), (E)

If, upon receipt of a report alleging abuse or neglect or during the assessment or investigation, the department determines that 

the alleged abuse or neglect of the child involves a child in the custody of the Office of Juvenile Affairs, and, at the time of the 

alleged abuse or neglect, the child was placed in a secure facility operated by the Office of Juvenile Affairs, as defined by § 2-1-103 

of this title, the department shall immediately make a referral, either verbally or in writing, to the appropriate law enforcement 

agency for the purpose of conducting a possible criminal investigation. After making the referral to the law enforcement agency, the 

Department shall not be responsible for further investigation.

Any law enforcement agency receiving a referral shall provide the department with a copy of the report of any investigation resulting 

from a referral from the department.

Whenever, in the course of any criminal investigation, a law enforcement agency determines that there is cause to believe that a child 

(other than a child in the custody of the Office of Juvenile Affairs and placed in an Office of Juvenile Affairs secure juvenile facility) 

may be abused or neglected by reason of the acts, omissions, or failures on the part of a person responsible for the health, safety, or 

welfare of the child, the law enforcement agency immediately shall contact the department for the purpose of an investigation.

For the purposes of this section, 'law enforcement' shall include military law enforcement if the subject of an investigation of abuse or 

neglect is currently serving in any branch of the United States military.

Ann. Stat. Tit. 10A, § 1-2-102(A)(1) & (4), (B)(1)-(2)

Upon receipt of a report that a child may be abused, neglected, or drug-endangered, the Department of Human Services shall 

conduct a safety analysis. If the child is a member of an active duty military family, the department shall notify the designated Federal 

authorities at the Federal military installation where the active duty service member is assigned that the department has received a 

report that such child may be abused, neglected or drug-endangered.

If, upon receipt of a report alleging abuse or neglect or during the assessment or investigation, the department determines that the 

alleged perpetrator is someone other than a person responsible for the child's health, safety, or welfare, and the alleged abuse or 

neglect of the child does not appear to be attributable to failure on the part of a person responsible for the child's health, safety, 

or welfare to provide protection for the child, the department shall immediately make a referral, either verbally or in writing, to the 

appropriate local law enforcement agency for the purpose of conducting a possible criminal investigation.

After making the referral to the law enforcement agency, the department shall not be responsible for further investigation unless:

• The department has reason to believe the alleged perpetrator is a parent of another child who is not the subject of the 

criminal investigation or is otherwise a person responsible for the health, safety, or welfare of another child.

• Notice is received from a law enforcement agency that it has determined the alleged perpetrator is a parent of or a person 

responsible for the health, safety, or welfare of another child not the subject of the criminal investigation.

• The appropriate law enforcement agency requests the department to assist in the investigation.

If funds and personnel are available, the department may assist law enforcement in interviewing children alleged to be victims of 

physical or sexual abuse.

Oregon

Rev. Stat. § 419B.015(1)(b), (2) 

When a report of child abuse is received by the Department of Human Services, the department shall notify a law enforcement 

agency within the county where the report was made. When a report of child abuse is received by a designee of the department, 

the designee shall notify, according to the contract, either the department or a law enforcement agency within the county where the 

report was made. When a report of child abuse is received by a law enforcement agency, the agency shall notify the local office of 

the department within the county where the report was made.
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When a report of child abuse is received under § 419B.015(1)(A), the entity receiving the report shall make the notification required by 

the subsection above according to rules adopted by the department.

Pennsylvania

Cons. Stat. Tit. 23, § 6365(c) 

A multidisciplinary investigative team shall be used to coordinate child-abuse investigations between county agencies and law 

enforcement. The county agency and the district attorney shall develop a protocol for the convening of multidisciplinary investigative 

teams for any case of child abuse by a perpetrator involving crimes against children which are set forth in § 6340(a)(9) and (10) 

(relating to release of information in confidential reports). The county multidisciplinary investigative team protocol shall include 

standards and procedures to be used in receiving and referring reports and coordinating investigations of reported cases of child 

abuse and a system for sharing the information obtained as a result of any interview. The protocol shall include any other standards 

and procedures to avoid duplication of fact-finding efforts and interviews to minimize the trauma to the child. The district attorney 

shall convene the multidisciplinary investigative team in accordance with the protocol. The multidisciplinary investigative team shall 

consist of those individuals and agencies responsible for investigating the abuse or for providing services to the child and shall at a 

minimum include a health care provider, county caseworker and law enforcement official.

Puerto Rico

Ann. Laws Tit. 8, § 444c

To guarantee faithful compliance with the public policy set forth in this chapter, the agencies and municipalities of the 

Commonwealth of Puerto Rico shall give priority to any situations of abuse, institutional abuse, neglect, and/or institutional neglect 

of which they become aware. The Department of the Family, the Department of Education, the Department of Health, the Mental 

Health and Addiction Services Administration, the Department of Housing, the Department of Justice, the Puerto Rico Police, the 

Puerto Rico Broadcasting Corporation, the Corrections Administration, and the Administration of Juvenile Institutions shall be under 

the obligation, with the urgency and sensitivity merited by each case, to give priority to attending to situations of abuse, institutional 

abuse, neglect, and/or institutional neglect. They shall coordinate their efforts when services are needed in connection with the 

identification, prevention, or treatment of minors who are victims of abuse, institutional abuse, neglect, and/or institutional neglect.

Agency coordination shall include joint planning, public education and information services, the use of each other's facilities, joint 

training and activities for personnel development, and evaluation and handling of cases. Agencies and municipalities shall ensure 

that the services that have been delegated for their rendering onto privatized entities or providers offer immediate attention to 

situations where there is abuse.

Rhode Island

Gen. Laws § 40-11-7(f) 

In the event that after investigation, the Department of Children, Youth, and Families has reasonable cause to know or suspect that a 

child has been subjected to criminal abuse or neglect, the department shall forward immediately any information as it relates to that 

knowledge or suspicion to the law enforcement agency.

Gen. Laws § 40-11-9

Upon receipt of a report concerning the alleged abuse or neglect of a child, it shall be the duty of the law enforcement agency to 

investigate further and to report the results of the investigation to the Department of Children, Youth, and Families and/or family 

court; however, if there is reasonable cause to believe that a crime has been committed, the law enforcement agency shall report the 

result of the investigation to the department of the attorney general.
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South Carolina

Ann. Code § 63-7-980 

The Department of Social Services must cooperate with law enforcement agencies within the area it serves and establish procedures 

necessary to facilitate the referral of child protection cases to the department.

Where the facts indicating abuse or neglect also appear to indicate a violation of criminal law, the department must notify 

the appropriate law enforcement agency of those facts within 24 hours of the department's finding for the purposes of police 

investigation. The law enforcement agency must file a formal incident report at the time it is notified by the department of the 

finding.

When the intake report is of alleged sexual abuse, the department must notify the appropriate law enforcement agency within 

24 hours of receipt of the report to determine if a joint investigation is necessary. The law enforcement agency must file a formal 

incident report at the time it is notified of the alleged sexual abuse.

The law enforcement agency must provide to the department copies of incident reports generated in any case reported to law 

enforcement by the department and in any case in which the officer responsible for the case knows the department is involved 

with the family or the child. The law enforcement officer must make reasonable efforts to advise the department of significant 

developments in the case, such as disposition in summary court, referral of a juvenile to the Department of Juvenile Justice, arrest or 

detention, trial date, and disposition of charges.

The department must include in its records copies of incident reports provided under this section and must record the disposition of 

charges.

Ann. Code § 63-7-320 

Where reports are made pursuant to § 63-7-310 to a law enforcement agency, the law enforcement agency shall notify the county 

Department of Social Services of the law enforcement's response to the report at the earliest possible time.

Where a county or contiguous counties have established multicounty child protective services, the county Department of Social 

Services immediately shall transfer reports pursuant to this section to the [multicounty child protective] service.

In the event the alleged abused or neglected child is a member of an active duty military family, concurrent with the transfer of the 

report, the county Department of Social Services shall notify the designated authorities at the military installation where the active 

duty military sponsor is assigned, pursuant to the memorandum of understanding or agreement with the military installation's 

command authority. The county Department of Social Services or law enforcement may collect and share information concerning the 

military affiliation of a person having custody of a child who is the subject of an investigation.

South Dakota

Codified Laws § 26-8A-8 

The reports required from mandated reporters by the reporting laws shall be made orally and immediately, by telephone or 

otherwise, to the State's attorney of the county in which the child resides or is present, to the Department of Social Services, or to law 

enforcement officers. The mandatory reporter who witnessed the disclosure or evidence of the abuse or neglect must be available to 

answer questions when the initial report is made pursuant to this section.

The State's attorney or law enforcement officers, upon receiving a report, shall immediately notify the Department of Social Services. 

Any person receiving a report of suspected child abuse or child neglect shall keep the report confidential as provided by statute.

Tennessee

Ann. Code § 37-1-405(a), (b)(1)-(2)

All cases reported to the juvenile court judge or to State or local law enforcement officers shall be referred immediately to the local 

director of the county office of the Department of Children's Services for investigation.

If the court or law enforcement officer finds that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the child is suffering from illness or 

injury or is in immediate danger from the child's surroundings and that the child's removal is necessary, appropriate protective action 

shall be taken.
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The county office of the Department of Children's Services or the office of the sheriff or the chief law enforcement official of the 

municipality where the child resides, upon receipt of a report of harm or sexual abuse, shall give notice of the report to the judge 

having juvenile jurisdiction where the child resides.

If the case appears to involve severe child abuse, including child sexual abuse, the county director of the Department of Children's 

Services immediately shall notify and consult with the district attorney general where the harm occurred, and the district attorney 

general may take such action as the district attorney general deems appropriate, including petitioning the court for removal of the 

child or termination of parental rights.

Ann. Code § 37-1-605(b)(2)

If a law enforcement official or judge becomes aware of known or suspected child sexual abuse through personal knowledge, receipt 

of a report, or otherwise, such information shall be reported to the Department of Children's Services immediately, and the child 

protective team shall be notified to investigate the report for the protection of the child in accordance with the provisions of this 

part. Further criminal investigation by such official shall be appropriately conducted.

Ann. Code § 37-1-403(c)(1) 

If a law enforcement official or judge becomes aware of known or suspected child abuse through personal knowledge, receipt 

of a report, or otherwise, such information shall be reported to the Department of Children's Services immediately and, where 

appropriate, the child protective team shall be notified to investigate the report for the protection of the child in accordance with the 

provisions of this part. Further criminal investigation by such officials shall be conducted appropriately in coordination with the team 

or department to the maximum extent possible.

Texas

Fam. Code § 261.105 

All reports received by a local or State law enforcement agency that allege abuse or neglect by a person responsible for a child's 

care, custody, or welfare shall be referred immediately to the Department of Family and Protective Services. The department shall 

immediately notify the appropriate State or local law enforcement agency of any report it receives that concerns the suspected 

abuse or neglect of a child or death of a child from abuse or neglect.

In addition to notifying a law enforcement agency, if the report relates to a child in a facility operated, licensed, certified, or 

registered by a State agency, the department shall refer the report to the agency for investigation. If, however, a report under this 

section relates to a child with an intellectual disability receiving services in a State-supported living center or the ICF-IID component 

of the Rio Grande State Center, the department shall proceed with the investigation of the report.

If the department initiates an investigation and determines that the abuse or neglect does not involve a person responsible for 

the child's care, custody, or welfare, the department shall refer the report to a law enforcement agency for further investigation. If 

the department determines that the abuse or neglect involves an employee of a public primary or secondary school, and that the 

child is a student at the school, the department shall orally notify the superintendent of the school district in which the employee is 

employed about the investigation.

In cooperation with the department, the Texas Juvenile Justice Department by rule shall adopt guidelines for identifying a 

report made to the Juvenile Justice Department that are appropriate to refer to the department or a law enforcement agency for 

investigation. Guidelines adopted under this subsection must require the Juvenile Justice Department to consider the severity and 

immediacy of the alleged abuse or neglect of the child victim.

Fam. Code § 261.1055 

A district attorney may inform the Department of Family and Protective Services or designated agency that the district attorney 

wishes to receive notification of some or all reports of suspected abuse or neglect of children who were in the county at the time the 

report was made or who were in the county at the time of the alleged abuse or neglect.

If the district attorney makes the notification under this section, the department or designated agency, on receipt of a report of 

suspected abuse or neglect, immediately shall notify the district attorney as requested, and the department or designated agency 

shall forward a copy of the reports to the district attorney on request.
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Utah

Ann. Code § 62A-4a-403(1)(b) 

On receipt of the notice of suspected child abuse or neglect, the peace officer or law enforcement agency immediately shall notify 

the nearest office of the Division of Child and Family Services.

If an initial report of child abuse or neglect is made to the division, the division immediately shall notify the appropriate local 

law enforcement agency. The division, in addition to its own investigation, shall comply with and lend support to investigations 

undertaken by law enforcement pursuant to a report made under the reporting laws.

Vermont

Ann. Stat. Tit. 33, § 4918(a)

Multidisciplinary teams shall assist local district offices of the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services in identifying and 

treating child abuse and neglect cases. With respect to any case referred to it, the team shall assist the district office by providing:

• Case diagnosis or identification

• A comprehensive treatment plan

• Coordination of services pursuant to the treatment plan

Ann. Stat. Tit. 33, § 4915b(g)

The Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services shall report to and receive assistance from appropriate law enforcement in the 

following circumstances:

• Investigations of child sexual abuse by an alleged perpetrator who is age 10 or older

• Investigations of serious physical abuse or neglect requiring emergency medical care, resulting in death, or likely to result in 

criminal charges

• Situations potentially dangerous to the child or department worker 

• An incident in which a child suffers serious bodily injury as defined in title 13, § 1021, by other than accidental means, and 

potential violations of:

» Lewd or lascivious conduct with a child (title 13, § 2602)

» Human trafficking (title 13, chapter 60)

» Sexual exploitation of children (title 13, chapter 64)

» Sexual assault (title 13, chapter 72)

The department shall report to and request assistance from law enforcement in the following circumstances:

• Investigations of child sexual abuse by an alleged perpetrator age 10 or older

• Investigations of serious physical abuse or neglect likely to result in criminal charges or requiring emergency medical care

• Situations potentially dangerous to the child or department worker

Ann. Stat. Tit. 33, § 4915(a)-(f)

Upon receipt of a report of abuse or neglect, the Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services promptly shall determine whether 

it constitutes an allegation of child abuse or neglect as defined by law.

If the report is accepted as a valid allegation of abuse or neglect, the department shall determine whether to conduct an assessment 

or to conduct an investigation. The department shall begin either an assessment or an investigation within 72 hours after the receipt 

of a report, provided that it has sufficient information to proceed.

The department shall conduct an investigation when an accepted report involves allegations indicating substantial child 

endangerment. 'Substantial child endangerment' includes conduct by an adult involving or resulting in sexual abuse and conduct 

by a person responsible for a child's welfare involving or resulting in abandonment, child fatality, malicious punishment, or abuse or 

neglect that causes serious physical injury. The department may conduct an investigation of any report.

The department shall begin an immediate investigation if, at any time during an assessment, it appears that an investigation is 

appropriate.

The department may collaborate with child protection, law enforcement, and other departments and agencies in Vermont and other 

jurisdictions to evaluate risk to a child and to determine the service needs of the child and family. The department may enter into 

reciprocal agreements with other jurisdictions to further the purposes of this subchapter.
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Virgin Islands

Ann. Code Tit. 5, § 2536(f) 

The Virgin Islands Police Department, on its own initiative where appropriate or at the request of the Department of Social Welfare, 

shall investigate reports of alleged child abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect and shall convey the results of such investigation to the 

Department of Social Welfare and, where a petition or complaint has been filed, to the Territorial Court. If the report of child abuse 

or neglect involves the acts or omissions of the Department of Social Welfare, the V.I.P.D. shall investigate such report and shall 

convey the results of such report to the Department of Law, which shall take appropriate action.

Ann. Code Tit. 5, § 2534(a) 

Reports of child abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect made pursuant to the reporting laws shall be made immediately by telephone or 

otherwise to the U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department (V.I.P.D.) or to the Department of Social Welfare. The V.I.P.D. shall relay such 

reports to the Department of Social Welfare immediately or, at the latest, at the commencement of the next regular office hours of 

the Department of Social Welfare. At the request of the Department of Social Welfare, an oral report shall be followed by a written 

report within 48 hours. 

Virginia

Ann. Code § 63.2-1507 

All law enforcement departments and other State and local departments, agencies, authorities, and institutions shall cooperate with 

each child protective services coordinator of a local department and any multidiscipline teams in the detection and prevention of 

child abuse.

Washington

Rev. Code § 26.44.030(4), (5)

The Department of Social and Health Services, upon receiving a report of an incident of alleged abuse or neglect involving a child 

who has died, has had physical injury or injuries inflicted upon him or her other than by accidental means, or who has been subjected 

to alleged sexual abuse, shall report such incident to the proper law enforcement agency.

In emergency cases, where the child's welfare is endangered, the department shall notify the proper law enforcement agency within 

24 hours after a report is received by the department. In all other cases, the department shall notify the law enforcement agency 

within 72 hours after a report is received by the department. If the department makes an oral report, a written report also shall be 

made to the proper law enforcement agency within 5 days thereafter.

Any law enforcement agency receiving a report of an incident of alleged abuse or neglect involving a child who has died, has had 

physical injury or injuries inflicted upon him or her other than by accidental means, or who has been subjected to alleged sexual 

abuse shall report such incident in writing as to the proper county prosecutor or city attorney for appropriate action whenever the 

law enforcement agency's investigation reveals that a crime may have been committed.

The law enforcement agency also shall notify the department of all reports received and the law enforcement agency's disposition of 

them. In emergency cases, where the child's welfare is endangered, the law enforcement agency shall notify the department within 

24 hours. In all other cases, the law enforcement agency shall notify the department within 72 hours after a report is received by the 

law enforcement agency.

West Virginia

Ann. Code § 49-2-809(b)

A copy of any report of serious physical abuse, sexual abuse, or assault shall be forwarded by the Department of Health and Human 

Resources to the appropriate law enforcement agency, the prosecuting attorney, or the coroner or medical examiner's office. 
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Wisconsin

Ann. Stat. § 48.981(3)(a)(1-2g)

A mandatory reporter shall immediately inform, by telephone or personally, the county department or, in a county having a 

population of 500,000 or more, the Department of Children and Families, or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the 

department, or the sheriff, or city, village, or town police department of the facts and circumstances contributing to a suspicion of 

child abuse or neglect or of unborn child abuse or to a belief that abuse or neglect will occur.

The sheriff or police department shall, within 12 hours, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays, refer to the county 

department or, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, the department or a licensed child welfare agency under 

contract with the department all of the following types of cases reported to the sheriff or police department:

• Cases in which a caregiver is suspected of abuse or neglect or of threatened abuse or neglect of a child

• Cases in which a caregiver is suspected of facilitating or failing to take action to prevent the suspected or threatened abuse or 

neglect of a child

• Cases in which it cannot be determined who abused or neglected or threatened to abuse or neglect a child

• Cases in which there is reason to suspect that an unborn child has been abused or there is reason to believe that an unborn 

child is at substantial risk of abuse

The sheriff or police department may refer to the county department or, in a county having a population of 500,000 or more, 

the department, or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department a case reported to the sheriff or police 

department in which a person who is not a caregiver is suspected of abuse or of threatened abuse of a child. The county 

department, department, or licensed child welfare agency may require that a subsequent report of a case referred to them be made 

in writing.

Ann. Stat. § 48.981(3)(a)(3-4)

A county department, the department, or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department shall, within 12 hours, 

exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays, refer to the sheriff or police department all cases of suspected or threatened 

abuse, as defined in § 48.02(1)(b) to (f), reported to it. For cases of suspected or threatened abuse, as defined in § 48.02(1)(a), (am), 

(g), or (gm), or neglect, each county department, the department, and a licensed child welfare agency under contract with the 

department shall adopt a written policy specifying the kinds of reports it will routinely report to local law enforcement authorities.

If the report is of suspected or threatened abuse, as defined in § 48.02(1)(b) to (f), the sheriff or police department and the county 

department, department, or licensed child welfare agency under contract with the department shall coordinate the planning and 

execution of the investigation of the report.

Ann. Stat. § 48.981(3)(bm) 

In a county that has wholly or partially within its boundaries a federally recognized Indian reservation or a Bureau of Indian Affairs 

service area for the Ho-Chunk Tribe, if a county department that receives a report pertaining to a child or unborn child knows or 

has reason to know that the child is an Indian child who resides in the county or that the unborn child is an Indian unborn child 

whose expectant mother resides in the county, the county department shall provide notice, which shall consist only of the name and 

address of the Indian child or expectant mother and the fact that a report has been received about that Indian child or Indian unborn 

child, within 24 hours, to one of the following:

• If the county department knows with which Indian Tribe the child is affiliated or with which Indian Tribe the Indian unborn 

child, when born, may be eligible for affiliation, and the Indian Tribe is a Wisconsin Indian Tribe, the Tribal agent of that Tribe

• If the county department does not know with which Indian Tribe the child is affiliated or with which Indian Tribe the Indian 

unborn child, when born, may be eligible for affiliation, or the child or expectant mother is not affiliated with a Wisconsin 

Indian Tribe, the Tribal agent serving the reservation or Ho-Chunk service area where the child or expectant mother resides

• If neither [of the above] applies, any Tribal agent serving a reservation or Ho-Chunk service area in the county
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Wyoming

Ann. Stat. § 14-3-206(a)

Reports of child abuse or neglect or of suspected child abuse or neglect made to the local child protective agency or local law 

enforcement agency shall be conveyed immediately by the agency receiving the report to the appropriate local child protective 

agency or local law enforcement agency. The agencies shall continue cooperating and coordinating with each other during the 

assessment or investigation. 

Ann. Stat. § 14-3-204(a)(vii)-(viii) 

The local child protective agency shall cooperate, coordinate, and assist with the prosecution and law enforcement agencies in 

investigating a report of suspected child abuse or neglect. When the best interests of the child require court actions, the agency 

shall contact the county and prosecuting attorney to initiate legal proceedings and assist the county and prosecuting attorney 

during the proceedings. 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

Administration for Children and Families 

Administration on Children, Youth and Families 

Children’s Bureau