Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect - New Jersey

Professionals Required to Report
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 9:6-8.10

All persons are required to report. 

Training Requirements for Mandatory Reporters

Citation: Admin. Code § 6A:16-11.1

The district Board of Education shall develop and adopt policies and procedures for school district employees, volunteers, or interns to provide for the early detection of missing, abused, or neglected children through notification of, reporting to, and cooperation with appropriate law enforcement and child welfare. At a minimum, the policies and procedures shall include provisions for training employees, volunteers, and interns working in the school district on the school district's policies and procedures for reporting allegations of missing, abused, or neglected children. All new employees, volunteers, and interns working in the school district shall receive the required information and training as part of their orientation. 

The New Jersey Department of Education provides access to training materials at Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect, What School Personnel Need To Do.

Reporting by Other Persons
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 9:6-8.10

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

Institutional Responsibility to Report
Citation: Admin. Code § 6A:16-11.1

The policies and procedures of the Board of Education shall include provisions requiring school district employees, volunteers, or interns to immediately notify designated child welfare authorities of incidents of alleged missing, abused, and neglected children, as follows: 

• The person having reason to believe that a child may be missing or may have been abused or neglected may inform the principal or other designated school official prior to notifying designated child welfare authorities if the action will not delay immediate notification. 
• The person notifying designated child welfare authorities shall inform the principal or other designated school official of the notification if such had not occurred prior to the notification. 

Notice to the principal or other designated school official need not be given when the person believes the notice would likely endanger the reporter or student involved or when the person believes the disclosure would likely result in retaliation against the student or in discrimination against the reporter with respect to the reporter's employment. 

The policies and procedures of the Board of Education also shall include provisions requiring the principal or other designated school official to notify designated law enforcement authorities of incidents of potentially missing, abused, or neglected children.  

Standards for Making a Report
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 9:6-8.10

A report is required when a person has reasonable cause to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse or neglect. 

Privileged Communications

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed. 

Inclusion of the Reporter's Name in the Report

The reporter is not specifically required by statute to provide their name in the report. 

Disclosure of the Reporter's Identity
Citation: Ann. Stat. § 9:6-8.10a

The identity of the reporter shall not be made public. Any information that could endanger any person shall not be released.