Mandated Reporting of Child Abuse

Legal Obligation to Report

In accordance with New Jersey state law, any individual who has reasonable cause to believe that a child has been subjected to child abuse—including sexual abuse—or acts of neglect, is required to report such concerns immediately to the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP).

Required Information for Reports

When making a report, employees should provide, whenever possible, the following information:

The name and address of the child;
The name and address of the child’s parent, guardian, or other person responsible for the child’s care and control;
The child’s age (if known);
The nature and extent of the suspected abuse or maltreatment, including any evidence of prior incidents;
Any additional information believed to be relevant to the protection of the child or identification of the alleged perpetrator.

Immunity from Liability

Individuals who report suspected child abuse or neglect in good faith are protected by law and are immune from civil or criminal liability that might otherwise arise from making the report. This immunity also extends to any testimony given in judicial proceedings related to the report.

Protection Against Retaliation

Employees who report child abuse or neglect in good faith and who subsequently experience adverse employment actions—including discharge, discrimination, or retaliation in compensation, hiring, tenure, or other terms and conditions of employment—have the right to seek legal recourse.

Such individuals may file a cause of action in the Family Part of the Chancery Division of the Superior Court located in the county where the alleged discrimination or discharge occurred, or in the county of the employee’s primary residence.

Remedies for Retaliation

If the court determines that an employee was retaliated against as a result of reporting child abuse or neglect, it may order remedies including:

Reinstatement to the employee’s former position;
Back pay for lost wages; and/or
Other legal or equitable relief deemed appropriate.

District Support and Resources

Employees with questions regarding the reporting process or who need assistance may contact the Human Resources Department or the designated Child Abuse Liaison for guidance.

Paramus Public Schools encourages employees to fulfill their legal and ethical obligation to report suspected child abuse. The District supports all employees in complying with these mandates and prohibits any form of retaliation against employees who make reports in good faith.

Any person who knowingly fails to report an act of sexual abuse against a child and who has reasonable cause to believe that an act of sexual abuse has been committed is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree. Call 911 or 1-877 NJ ABUSE (1-877-652-2873)

Definitions of Child Abuse, Neglect, Cruelty, and Abandonment

Abuse of a child shall consist in any of the following acts:

(b) Employing or permitting a child to be employed in any vocation or employment injurious to its health or dangerous to its life or limb, or contrary to the laws of this State;

(c) Employing or permitting a child to be employed in any occupation, employment or vocation dangerous to the morals of such child;

(d) The habitual use by the parent or by a person having the custody and control of a child, in the hearing of such child, of profane, indecent or obscene language;

(e) The performing of any indecent, immoral or unlawful act or deed, in the presence of a child, that may tend to debauch or endanger or degrade the morals of the child;

(f) Permitting or allowing any other person to perform any indecent, immoral or unlawful act in the presence of the child that may tend to debauch or endanger the morals of such child;

(g) Using excessive physical restraint on the child under circumstances which do not indicate that the child's behavior is harmful to himself, others or property;

(h) Willfully isolating the child from ordinary social contact under circumstances which indicate emotional or social deprivation.

Abandonment of a child shall consist in any of the following acts:

(a) Willfully forsaking a child;

(b) Failing to care for and keep the control and custody of a child so that the child shall be exposed to physical or moral risk without proper and sufficient protection;

(c) Failing to care for and keep the control and custody of a child so that the child shall be liable to be supported and maintained at the expense of the public, or by child caring societies or private persons not legally chargeable with its or their care, custody and control.

Cruelty to a child shall consist in any of the following acts:

(a) Inflicting unnecessarily severe corporal punishment upon a child.

(b) inflicting upon a child unnecessary suffering or pain, either mental or physical.

(d) any willful act of omission or commission whereby unnecessary pain and suffering, whether mental or physical, is caused or permitted to be inflicted on a child.

(e) or exposing a child to unnecessary hardship, fatigue or mental or physical strains that may tend to injure the health or physical or moral well-being of such child.

Neglect of a child shall consist in any of the following acts:

(a) willfully failing to provide proper and sufficient food, clothing, maintenance, regular school education as required by law, medical attendance or surgical treatment, and a clean and proper home,

(b) failure to do or permit to be done any act necessary for the child's physical or moral well-being. Neglect also means the continued inappropriate placement of a child in an institution, with the knowledge that the placement has resulted and may continue to result in harm to the child's mental or physical well-being.

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