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How to Report

Missouri (MO)

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Who is required to report?

Citation: Rev. Stat. §§ 210.115; 352.400; 573.215

Professionals required to report include the following:

  • Physicians, medical examiners, coroners, dentists, chiropractors, optometrists, podiatrists, residents, interns, nurses, hospital and clinic personnel, or other health practitioners
  • Daycare center workers or other child care workers, teachers, principals, or other school officials
  • Psychologists, mental health professionals, or social workers
  • Ministers, including clergypersons, priests, rabbis, Christian Science practitioners, or other persons serving in a similar capacity for any religious organization
  • Juvenile officers, probation or parole officers, peace officers, law enforcement officials, or jail or detention center personnel
  • Volunteers or personnel of community service programs that offer support services for families in crisis to assist in the delegation of any powers regarding the care and custody of a child by a properly executed power of attorney
  • Other persons with responsibility for the care of children
  • Film and photographic print processors; computer providers, installers, or repair persons; or internet service providers

When is a report required?

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 210.115

When a mandated reporter has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been or may be subjected to abuse or neglect, that person shall immediately cause an oral report to be made to the Children's Division within the Department of Social Services.

What information should the report include?

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 210.130

  • The name and address of the child and his/her parents or other persons responsible for his/her care
  • The child’s age, sex, and race
  • The nature and extent of the child’s injuries, abuse, or neglect, including evidence of previous injuries, abuse, or neglect to the child or his or her siblings, if known
  • The name, age, and address of the person responsible for the injuries, abuse, or neglect, if known
  • The family composition
  • The source of the report
  • The name and address of reporter and his or her occupation and contact information
  • Actions taken by the reporter
  • Other information that the reporter believes may be relevant

Failure to report

Citation: Ann. Stat. §§ 210.165(1); 573.215

Any person violating any provision of the reporting laws is guilty of a class A misdemeanor.

A person commits the offense of failure to report child pornography if he or she, being a film and photographic print processor, computer provider, installer or repair person, or any internet service provider who has knowledge of or observes, within the scope of the person's professional capacity or employment, any film, photograph, videotape, negative, slide, or computer-generated image or picture depicting a child under age 18 engaged in an act of sexual conduct fails to report such instance to any law enforcement agency immediately or as soon as practically possible.

The offense of failure to report child pornography is a class B misdemeanor.

Nothing in this section shall be construed to require a provider of electronic communication services or remote computing services to monitor any user, subscriber, or customer of the provider or the content of any communication of any user, subscriber, or customer of the provider.