WEST VIRGINIA
Register-Herald
By Cody Neff
Register-Herald Reporter
Did you know that, if you’re over 18, you have to report any child sexual abuse you know of?
According to the executive director of the Just For Kids Child Advocacy Center, last year a law was put into place that changed the way child sexual abuse is reported.
“Every person over 18 years of age is a mandated reporter for child sexual abuse,” Scott Miller said. “There are a list of people who are mandated reporters for child abuse which includes clergy, teachers, coaches, and volunteers in child programs. Now, every adult is a mandated reporter for child sexual abuse.”
Miller said he hopes this will increase the number of children who can get help for abuse.
“Ideally, it means that there will be more reports of child sexual abuse,” he said. “If people take it seriously and recognize that they have the duty under the law to report something that they see or hear, then more people will do it. That is how it has played out.
“States have implemented similar laws and they have seen increases in the reports and in disclosures of sexual abuse. Only 1 in 10 children tell. It’s not their responsibility to tell so even if one more person reports something they hear or see, that’s one more child that will hopefully get the support they need to get help to reduce the trauma of the abuse.”
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