Do I have to report this?
Short answer: if you are asking, make the call. You do not need to be certain, and you do not need proof.
If you need help now
- Immediate danger: call 911.
- Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453: call or text, 24/7, they connect you to your state's reporting line.
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988, 24/7.
- RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673, 24/7.
What the law actually asks of you
- The standard is reasonable suspicion, not evidence. Investigating is the state's job, not yours.
- Mandated reporters: teachers, school staff, physicians, nurses, therapists, social workers, childcare workers, clergy in many states, and more. Are legally required to report suspected abuse or neglect, usually within 24 to 72 hours. Some states require every adult to report.
- Good-faith reports are protected. States shield reporters who call in honest concern, even when the investigation finds nothing.
- Not sure whether what you saw qualifies? Call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline, 1-800-422-4453, call or text, 24/7, and talk it through with a counselor before you decide. If a child is in immediate danger, call 911.
Go deeper
The Mandated Reporters toolkit covers who carries the duty, what happens after a call, and what to do when a report seems to go nowhere. Your state's exact rules are on your state page via Research & Data.