Which statement about reporting when there is reasonable suspicion is accurate?

Which statement about reporting when there is reasonable suspicion is accurate?

• A. A report can only be made if there is proof.
• B. A report may be made when there is reasonable suspicion, even without proof.
• C. A report is optional in all cases.
• D. A report must be made only after a police investigation.

Answer: (B)

When there is reasonable suspicion of abuse or neglect, a mandated reporter’s duty to report is triggered even without proof. Reasonable suspicion means you’ve observed signs or have information that leads you to think abuse or neglect may be occurring, not certainty. In this situation you should report promptly to the appropriate child protective services agency or local authorities according to district procedures, and you should not try to prove the case yourself or wait for a full investigation. Reporting in good faith is protected from liability. That’s why the accurate statement is that a report may be made when there is reasonable suspicion, even without proof.

When there is reasonable suspicion of abuse or neglect, a mandated reporter’s duty to report is triggered even without proof. Reasonable suspicion means you’ve observed signs or have information that leads you to think abuse or neglect may be occurring, not certainty. In this situation you should report promptly to the appropriate child protective services agency or local authorities according to district procedures, and you should not try to prove the case yourself or wait for a full investigation. Reporting in good faith is protected from liability.

That’s why the accurate statement is that a report may be made when there is reasonable suspicion, even without proof.