Mandated reporters are generally required by law to provide their name when making a report of suspected child abuse. However, their identity is kept confidential and protected by law. In some jurisdictions, non-mandated reporters may report anonymously, but mandated reporters usually must disclose their identity for the report to be processed properly.
Key Points about Mandated Reporter Identification:
- Mandated reporters must provide their name and address when making a report in many states (e.g., Iowa, California, Connecticut) but this information is kept confidential and is not disclosed to the public or the alleged abuser.
- The identity of mandated reporters is protected and only disclosed to certain authorities like law enforcement or district attorneys if necessary.
- Some jurisdictions allow anonymous reporting but typically this applies to non-mandated reporters.
- The requirement to provide identity helps agencies follow up for additional details and ensures accountability in the reporting process.
Summary
Mandated reporters do need to provide their name during a child abuse report, but laws strongly protect their confidentiality and provide legal immunity for making the report in good faith. Anonymous reporting is more commonly allowed for non-mandated reporters rather than mandated reporters themselves.
