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July 2002Vol. 3, No. 6Reporting Laws: Clergy as Mandated Reporters

The National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information has recently released a new publication in its Child Abuse and Neglect State Statutes Ready Reference series. Reporting Laws: Clergy as Mandated Reporters focuses on the issue of clergy members' obligations in reporting instances of suspected of child abuse and neglect.

Approximately 12 States specifically name members of clergy as mandated reporters of suspected child abuse and neglect. The new publication explores the reporting requirement in these and other States, as well as how the requirement to report may be superceded by privileged communications, such as communications "under the seal of the confessional."

Ready Reference publications are products of the Child Abuse and Neglect State Statutes Series. They present the citations and text of State statutes on topics of special interest.

This publication can soon be found within the Child Abuse and Neglect State Statutes Series on the website of the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information at http://nccanch.acf.hhs.gov/general/legal/statutes/clergymandated.cfm