Tennessee Law & Abuse
According to Tennessee law, ALL persons must report suspected cases of child abuse and neglect. This includes doctors, police, teachers, parents, mental health professionals, child care providers, dentists, family members and friends.

In Tennessee, if you have "reasonable cause to believe" a child is being abused or neglected you must report that suspicion to the state Department of Children's Services or law enforcement—and you are required by law to do it immediately. Failure to report is a misdemeanor which carries a sentence of up to three months imprisonment, a fine of up to $50, or both.

Do not attempt to conduct your own investigation. Report your suspicions to the proper authorities. It is the role of the state Department of Children's Services or law enforcement to investigate the report. However, all reports do not meet the criteria for investigation. If you suspect additional abuse after the initial report has been made, report that as well.

As a mandated reporter you are protected by the state in terms of liability and confidentiality. Reporters who "act in good faith" are immune from any civil or criminal charges which may result.

If you are unsure whether or not you have reasonable cause, go ahead and call. Borderline cases are of great concern—abuse occurs in approximately 50% of these cases if intervention does not take place. In 35% of these cases, the children will eventually be severely injured. Approximately 1.7% of these children will be killed.

Suspected Abuse
To report suspected Child Abuse or Neglect in Tennessee call:

Department of Children's Services Centralized Intake Office
1-877-237-0004

For emergencies after business hours call your local law enforcement agency who can page the Department of Children's Services On-call Worker.

Definitions of Abuse
Child Sexual Abuse
Child sexual abuse is the exploitation or coercion of a child. Child sexual abuse involves a continuum of behavior that ranges from verbal, non physical abuse to forcible touching offenses. It can range from a single encounter with an exhibitionist, to occasional fondling by a casual acquaintance, to years of ongoing abuse by a relative or family member, to rape and/or exploitation through prostitution and pornography.

Who are the Offenders?
Child sexual abusers are likely to be people we know and could even care about. Most child abusers are fathers, stepparents, grandparents and other family members. Older children and peers also abuse children. Offenders may be neighbors, babysitters, ministers, teachers, coaches, or anyone else who has close contact with our children. Eighty to ninety percent of all cases include an offender who is someone the child knows or trusts. In approximately half of these cases, the trusted adult is a father or stepfather.

Child Physical Abuse
Child physical abuse and neglect occur when a child's physical health or welfare is harmed or threatened with harm by the acts or omissions of his or her parent(s) or caregiver(s). Harm refers to infliction of physical pain, resulting in injury, disfigurement or impairment of any bodily organ or death.

Neglect, or "harm through omission," refers to a failure to provide the child with adequate food, clothing, shelter, education, supervision or health care, providing the parent or guardian is financially able to do so.

Statistics

• In the state of Tennessee in fiscal year 2006/2007, the Department of Children's Services completed over 63,700 investigations of Child Abuse or Neglect.
• In 2007, there were 794,000 children that were victims of abuse in the United States.
• 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be victims of Child Sexual Abuse by age 18. 
• 1 in 5 children are sexually solicited while on the Internet.
• 90% of the time perpetrators of Child Sexual Abuse are someone known well by the victim – not a stranger.