Mandated Reporter Academy
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How to Report

Louisiana (LA)

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Who is required to report?

Citation: Children's Code Art. 603(17)

Mandatory reporters include any of the following individuals:

  • Health practitioners, including:
    • Physicians
    • Surgeons
    • Physical therapists
    • Dentists
    • Residents
    • Interns
    • Hospital staff
    • Outpatient abortion facility staff members
    • Podiatrists
    • Chiropractors
    • Nurses
    • Nursing aides
    • Dental hygienists
    • Emergency medical technicians
    • Paramedics
    • Optometrists
    • Medical examiners
    • Coroners
  • Mental health/social service practitioners, including:
    • Psychiatrists
    • Psychologists
    • Marriage or family counselors
    • Social workers
    • Members of the clergy
    • Aides
  • Members of the clergy, including:
    • Priests
    • Rabbis
    • Duly ordained clerical deacons or ministers
    • Christian Science practitioners
    • Other similarly situated functionaries of a religious organization
  • Teaching or child care providers, including:
    • Public or private teachers
    • Teacher's aides
    • Instructional aides
    • School principals
    • School staff members
    • Bus drivers
    • Coaches
    • Professors
    • Technical or vocational instructors
    • Technical or vocational school staff members
    • College or university administrators
    • College or university staff members
    • Social workers
    • Probation officers
    • Foster home parents
    • Group home or other child care institutional staff members
    • Personnel of residential home facilities
    • Daycare providers
    • Any individual who provides such services to a child in a voluntary or professional capacity
  • Police officers or law enforcement officials
  • Commercial film and photographic print processors
  • Mediators
  • Parenting coordinators
  • Court-appointed special advocates
  • Organizational or youth activity providers, including:
    • Administrators
    • Employees
    • Volunteers of any day camp, summer camp, youth center, or youth recreation program
    • Any other organization that provides organized activities for children
  • School coaches, including but not limited to:
    • Public technical or vocational school coaches
    • Community college coaches
    • College or university coaches
    • Coaches of intramural or interscholastic athletics

When is a report required?

Citation: Ch. Code Art. 609; 610(D)

Notwithstanding any claim of privileged communication, any mandatory reporter who has cause to believe that a child's physical or mental health or welfare is endangered as a result of abuse or neglect or that abuse or neglect was a contributing factor in a child's death shall submit a report.

What information should the report include?

Citation: Ch. Code Art. 610(B)-(C)

The report shall contain the following information, if known:

  • Name, address, age, sex, and race of the child
  • Nature, extent, and cause of the child’s injuries or endangered condition, including any previous known or suspected abuse to the child or his/her siblings
  • Name and address of the child’s parents or other caretaker
  • Names and ages of all other members of the child’s household
  • Name and address of the reporter
  • Account of how child came to the reporter’s attention
  • Any explanation of the cause of the child’s injury or condition offered by the child, the caretaker, or any other person
  • Number of times the reporter has filed a report on the child or the child’s siblings
  • Name of the person or persons who are believed to have caused or contributed to the child’s condition, if known
  • Any other information that the reporter believes might be important or relevant

Failure to report

Citation: Children's Code Art. 609; Rev. Stat. § 14:403

Violation of the duties imposed upon a mandatory reporter subjects the offender to criminal prosecution.

Any person who is required to report the abuse or neglect of a child and knowingly and willfully fails to do so shall be fined no more than $500 or imprisoned for no more than 6 months, or both.

Any person who is required to report the sexual abuse of a child or the abuse or neglect of a child that results in the serious bodily injury, neurological impairment, or death of the child and knowingly and willfully fails to report shall be fined no more than $3,000 or imprisoned with or without hard labor for no more than 3 years, or both. The term 'serious bodily injury' includes, but is not limited to, injury involving protracted and obvious disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty; substantial risk of death; or injury resulting from starvation or malnutrition.

Notwithstanding the provisions above, any person who is age 18 or older who witnesses the sexual abuse of a child and knowingly and willfully fails to report the sexual abuse to law enforcement or to the Department of Children and Family Services, as required by law, shall be fined no more than $10,000 or imprisoned with or without hard labor for no more than 5 years, or both.