Mandatory Reporting

Mandatory reporting statutes require individuals to report certain injuries or cases of abuse or neglect to law enforcement, social services, and/or a regulatory agency.  The most common mandatory reporting laws address child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence, elder abuse, gunshot wounds, and abuse of vulnerable adults (e.g., persons 18 years or older that are unable to report abuse and/or protect themselves from further harm). 

The individuals who are mandated to report elder abuse vary by jurisdiction, as do the particular kinds of injuries or neglect that must be reported and about whom reports must be made.

Below are some resources on mandatory reporting.

Mandatory Reporting of Elder Abuse for Victim Service Providers:  6-Part Series of Information Sheets
This series was co-authored by Jessica Mindlin, Esq., and Bonnie Brandl, MSW, 2011.

Part 1:  What is Mandatory Reporting?

Part 2:  Mandatory Reporting of Elder Abuse: Exploring the Benefits and Harms

Part 3:  What Advocates Need to Know About Mandatory Reporting of Elder Abuse

Part 4:  Tips for Working with Older Victims When You Are Mandated to Report Elder Abuse

Part 5:  Developing Agency Policy on Mandatory Reporting of Elder Abuse

Part 6:  Elder Abuse Mandatory Reporting Flow Chart for Victim Service Providers

Mandatory Reporting of Elder Abuse:  Implications for Domestic Violence Advocates
This manual providers a series of questions for domestic violence advocates to consider when exploring their responsibilities regarding mandatory reporting of elder abuse in their state.
Written by Bonnie Brandl, MSW, 2005, REV 2011.

Sexual Abuse in Later Life
An article addressing sexual assault in later life and focusing specifically on the victimization of elders that occurs in the context of intimate partner violence, incest, and care facilities. Sexual Assault Report, Volume 12, Number 6. July/August 2009. By Holly Ramsey-Klawsnik, Ph.D. and Bonnie Brandl, MSW, 2009.