Child Abuse Reporting


If a school employee sees unexplained injuries to a child, he or she is required to
report those injuries to child-protection officials. Most of the time the system works as it should to protect children. However, nationwide schools have sometimes used the child protection reporting system to harass parents who zealously advocate for their legal children’s rights.

False Child Abuse Reporting laws in Indiana
Indiana Statute: § 31-33-22-1; § 31-33-22-3(a)-(b)

Failure to Report
Standard: Knowingly
Penalty: Class B misdemeanor
Staff member of a medical or other institution, school, facility, or agency: Class B misdemeanor penalty imposed in addition to above.

False Reporting
Standard: Intentionally
Penalty: Class A misdemeanor: liable for actual damages and possibly punitive damages. Class D felony, if there is a prior conviction

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