Child Abuse Reporting Laws for Connecticut

State and Statute: Connecticut, Gen. Stats. §§ 17a-101 et seq.

What Is Reportable "Abuse": Physical, sexual, or mental abuse, or neglect, inflicted by a person responsible for a child's health, welfare or care, or by a person given access to such child by such responsible person. [17a-101a] and [46b-120]

“Child” is defined as any person who is under 18 years of age or any person under 21 years of age who is in full-time attendance in a secondary school, technical school, a college or state-accredited job training program. [17a-93(1)]

Mandatory Reporters: Includes any member of the clergy, any school employee, mental health professional, licensed marital and family therapist, or any person paid to care for a child in any public or private facility, child care center or family day care home which is licensed by the state. [17a-101(b)]

Written or electronic report by mandated reporter not later than 48 hours after making an oral report. Mandated reporter should submit a written or electronic report to the Commissioner of Children and Families or the commissioner’s designee. [17a-101c]

How and Where to Report: Report by phone or in person the Commissioner of Children and Families or a law enforcement agency. [17a-101b(a)]

Timeline to Report: Within 12 hours. [17a-101b(a)]

Clergy Privilege: No reference.

Penalty for Knowingly Failing to Report: Failure to report is a Class A misdemeanor or Class E felony under specific circumstances, with a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $2,500. Interfering with making of a report is a Class D felony. [17a-101a(b)(1)(2)]

Civil Liability for Failure to Report Recognized? “The Attorney General may bring an action in Superior Court against an employer who violates this subsection. The court may assess a civil penalty of not more than $2,500 and may order such other equitable relief as the court deems appropriate” [17a-101e]

Immunity for Inaccurate Report: "Any person, institution or agency which, in good faith, makes … the report … shall be immune from any liability, civil or criminal, which might otherwise be incurred or imposed … Any person who is alleged to have knowingly made a false report of child abuse or neglect … shall be referred to the office of the Chief State's Attorney for purposes of a criminal investigation. … Any person who knowingly makes a false report of child abuse or neglect … shall be fined not more than $2,000 or imprisoned not more than one year or both." [17a-101e(b)(c)(d)]

Disclosure of Mandatory Reporter’s Identity: Reporter's identity not to be disclosed without written consent, except to certain parties, or when a court determines reasonable cause the reporter knowingly made a false report. [17a-28(g)(1) and 17a-28(f)]