Virtual Commons - Bridgewater State University

Poster: The Influence of Mandatory Reporting Laws Concerning Child Maltreatment on Reporting Behaviors: An Analysis of State Statute and State Characteristics

Moakley Atrium

Mandatory reporting laws concerning child maltreatment have existed since the early 1970s. This study examines the relationship between the different provisions of mandatory reporting laws and state characteristics on rates of reporting for each state in 2005. It was hypothesized that the more individuals who are mandated to report, the higher the rate of reporting would be, especially by individual professional groups (such as teachers). The results indicate that, at the bivariate level, there is little relationship between mandatory reporting laws for individual professional groups and their actual rate of reporting. Multivariate analyses indicate that there is also little cumulative effect of mandatory reporting laws on rates of reporting. The rate of child maltreatment fatalities, however, has a significant relationship to reporting, as does state income level. The results raise important questions with regard to the implementation of legislation and the potential need for public education campaigns concerning child maltreatment and mandatory reporting laws.