Making and Screening Reports of Child Abuse and Neglect - Northern Mariana Islands

Individual Responsibility to Report

Citation: Commonwealth Code Tit. 6, § 5313(a)

Any mandated reporter who knows or has reasonable cause to suspect a child is or was abused or neglected shall report promptly to the Department of Public Safety. This notification shall be made within 24 hours.

Content of Reports

Citation: Commonwealth Code Tit. 6, § 5313(a)

The report shall contain a statement of the time, date, circumstances, and information that gave rise to the reporter's belief that abuse or neglect occurred or will occur.

Reporting Suspicious Deaths

Citation: Commonwealth Code Tit. 6, § 5313(c)

A mandated reporter who has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has died as a result of abuse shall report that fact to the medical examiner.

Reporting Substance-Exposed Infants

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed.

Agency Receiving the Reports

Citation: Commonwealth Code Tit. 6, § 5313(d)

Reports may be made to the Department of Public Safety or the Division of Youth Services.

Initial Screening Decisions

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed.

Agency Conducting the Assessment/Investigation

Citation: Commonwealth Code Tit. 6, § 5313(c)

The Division of Youth Services shall investigate and make a recommendation to the attorney general's office.

Assessment/Investigation Procedures

Citation: Commonwealth Code Tit. 6, §§ 5313(c); 5322

The Department of Public Safety shall promptly, within 24 hours, notify the attorney general's office and the Division of Youth Services of all reported cases.

If a child is taken into custody, the division shall immediately commence a child protective investigation to determine if it is necessary to make the child a ward of the court.

Timeframes for Completing Investigations

Citation: Commonwealth Code Tit. 6, § 5322

The division shall make a recommendation to the attorney general's office within 24 hours of the initiation of protective custody regarding whether it is necessary to make the child a ward of the court.

Classification of Reports

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed.