The media has been abuzz with the news of the recent Penn State-related child molestation charges. There are many people who are criticizing Joe Paterno for not reporting the information he knew to the proper authorities. What if something like this happened here in Kansas City? What if you were the one who saw questionable behavior between an adult and a child? Would you know what to do? Would you know who you were supposed to tell? Are you legally obligated to report the incident because of your occupation? Here’s what you need to know to not only protect yourself, but also innocent victims of sex crimes such as this.

What kind of things need to be reported?

You should report any kind of physical injury, sexual or emotional abuse you see or learn has been inflicted on a child (other than accidental incidents) by a caregiver.

Who is legally obligated to report such occurrences?

Because of their trusted position in the community, physicians, dentists, medical examiners, chiropractors, coroners, optometrists, hospital personnel, nurses, clinic personnel, psychologists, any health practitioners, social workers, day care providers or workers, mental health professionals, juvenile officers, teachers, school officials, parole or probation officers, law enforcement officials, and ministers are bound by law to report any and all abuse cases they see or hear about.

Who do you report your suspicions to?

Once you hear or see a child in an abusive environment or situation, you should immediately report the incident to the local authorities. You can do so by calling your police station or the Missouri Division of Family Services. These people are trained on how to proceed with the next steps of making sure the child or children are safe.

What’s the penalty for failing to report abuse or reporting a false accusation?

The penalty for not reporting known abuse or knowingly delivering a false account of abuse is a Class A misdemeanor. If convicted, you may be subject to a fine of up to $1000 and one year in jail.

So to protect yourself and the innocent victims in sex crimes involving children, share your information with the proper authorities in a timely manner. If you’re unsure as how to proceed, you can always discuss the situation with your attorney.