Indiana’s Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline logged 26,000 fewer reports in 2020 than in each of the previous two years, according to the Indianapolis Star. A Department of Child Services supervisor who was interviewed attributed the decrease to a drop in children’s in-person interaction with caring adults such as physicians, school staff and therapists during the pandemic. Since April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, continue reading for some resources to help you recognize the signs of child abuse and neglect and to understand your legal duty to report it.

Recognizing child abuse and neglect: Prevent Child Abuse Indiana (PCAIN) has compiled a list of physical and behavioral indicators of child abuse and neglect, as well as potential behaviors of abusive caretakers.

Indiana Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline: The Indiana Department of Child Services phone number to report suspected abuse is 1-800-800-5556. This page includes additional information on reporting abuse and using the hotline.

Duty to report: Indiana is a mandatory reporting state, which means Indiana law requires anyone who has reason to believe that a child is a victim of child abuse or neglect must report it.

Failure to make a report: Knowingly failing to report child abuse or neglect in Indiana is a Class B misdemeanor, which can result in a jail term of up to 180 days and a $1,000 fine.

Read the full Indianapolis Star story here >>

Note: This communication should not be construed as legal advice or a legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances. The contents are intended for general informational purposes only, and you are urged to consult your own attorney regarding any specific legal questions you may have concerning your situation.