Pennsylvania Legal Frequently Asked Questions
In Pennsylvania, The Child Protective Services Act codifies effective ways that services can be provided for children (including infants) who may be suffering from child abuse and how reporters can bring these children to the attention of child protective services.
- What is child abuse?
- What is considered “serious physical injury”?
- What is considered “serious bodily injury”?
- What is considered “serious mental injury”?
- What is considered “serious physical neglect”?
- When is it NOT child abuse?
- What is the religious exception to medical treatment? When does religion impact the finding of physical or mental abuse?
- Who can be a “perpetrator” of child abuse?
- How do you report suspected child abuse?
- What happens after a report of suspected child abuse is made?
- How are reports investigated?
- How long does it take for a report to be investigated?
- When are mandatory reporters required to report?
- Who is a “mandatory reporter”?
- Are there any exceptions?
- What does a mandatory reporter do if the child died?
- In addition to mandatory reporters, who should report suspected child abuse?
- Is the reporter’s identity ever revealed?
- Will the mandatory reporter know the report’s outcome?
- Are reports confidential?
- What are the mandatory reporting requirements for mandatory reporters?
- How to report suspected child abuse
- Can reporters be held liable?
- What is the “presumption of good faith”?
- What if a mandatory reporter fails to report suspected child abuse?
- What if the report of suspected child abuse is unfounded?
- What if the report of suspected child abuse is founded?
- What happens if the child goes to the hospital?
- What if the child is a newborn?
- Can the child be refused care by the hospital?
- When can a child be taken into protective custody?
- How long can a child be held in protective custody?
- Who is given notice that the child is being held in protective custody?
- Where is the child held when in protective custody?
- Can any information from reports be released?
