District of Columbia Child Abuse Reporting Statute
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA OFFICIAL CODE
Title 4. Public Care Systems.
Chapter 13. Child Abuse and Neglect.
Subchapter II. Reports of Neglected Children.
§ 4-1321.02. Persons required to make reports; procedure.
(a) Notwithstanding § 14-307, any person specified in subsection (b) of this section who knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that a child known to him or her in his or her professional or official capacity has been or is in immediate danger of being a mentally or physically abused or neglected child, as defined in § 16-2301(9), shall immediately report or have a report made of such knowledge or suspicion to either the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia or the Child Protective Services Division of the Department of Human Services.
(b) Persons required to report such abuse or neglect shall include every physician, psychologist, medical examiner, dentist, chiropractor, registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, person involved in the care and treatment of patients, law-enforcement officer, school official, teacher, social service worker, day care worker, and mental health professional. Whenever a person is required to report in his or her capacity as a member of the staff of a hospital, school, social agency or similar institution, he or she shall immediately notify the person in charge of the institution or his or her designated agent who shall then be required to make the report. The fact that such a notification has been made does not relieve the person who was originally required to report from his or her duty under subsection (a) of this section of having a report made promptly to the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia or the Child Protective Services Division of the Department of Human Services.
(c) In addition to those persons who are required to make a report, any other person may make a report to the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia or the Child Protective Services Division of the Department of Human Services.
(d) In addition to the requirements in subsections (a) and (b) of this section, any health professional licensed pursuant to Chapter 12 of Title 3, or a law enforcement officer, except an undercover officer whose identity or investigation might be jeopardized, shall report immediately, in writing, to the Child Protective Services Division of the Department of Human Services, that the law enforcement officer or health professional has reasonable cause to believe that a child is abused as a result of inadequate care, control, or subsistence in the home environment due to exposure to drug-related activity. The report shall be in accordance with the provisions of § 4-1321.03.
Title 4. Public Care Systems.
Chapter 13. Child Abuse and Neglect.
Subchapter II. Reports of Neglected Children.
§ 4-1321.05. Privileges; waiver.
