FAQs

Did you know? Child Abuse/Neglect Reports Statistics:

In 2002, there were 6,041 reports of child abuse and neglect in Nassau County.

In Suffolk County, there were 7,141 reports.

That’s 13,182 children involved in maltreatment situations on Long Island.

In 2001, the New York State Central Register received 149,892 reports.

In New York Sate, 250,000 children were involved in reports.

Annually in the United States, 3 million children are involved in reports. This means that approximately 15 out of every 1,000 children in the United States are confirmed victims of abuse or neglect.

Types of Maltreatment Substantiated

(Please note: some children were victims of more than one type of maltreatment)
Neglect: 54%
Physical Abuse: 22%
Sexual Abuse: 8%
Emotional Abuse: 4%
Other: 12%
(Other includes abandonment, congenital drug addiction, threats of harm, and other situations)

(Statistics obtained from the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect (NCCAN) of the Administration on Children, Youth and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Prevent Child Abuse America, and the Nassau County and Suffolk County and Departments of Social Services - Offices of Child Protective Services.)

General Guidelines on Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect

An abused child is one who:

Is less than 18 years of age and whose parent or other person legally responsible for his/her care inflicts or allows to be inflicted serious physical injury by other than accidental means, creates or allows to be created substantial risk of such injury, or commits or allows to be committed a sex offense against such a child.

A neglected (maltreated) child is one who:
Is less than 18 years of age and whose physical, mental or emotional condition has been impaired or is in danger of becoming impaired due to parents' failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care or education, proper supervision or guardianship; infliction of excessive corporal punishment; or abandonment of child.

Who Should Report Abuse and Maltreatment?
Any person who has reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or maltreatment should report this information to the New York State Child Abuse and Maltreatment Register Public Hotline at 1-800-342-3720, at any time.

Should a person be certain of abuse or maltreatment before reporting?
No. The law does not require absolute certainty. It does require reasonable cause to suspect abuse or maltreatment.

Can a person incur liability by reporting suspected abuse?
Any person or institution making a report of suspected child abuse or maltreatment in good faith has immunity from civil or criminal liability which might otherwise be incurred.

What happens to the report I make to the Public Hotline?
The report will be relayed to the local child protective service in the county Department of Social Services. The Protective Service worker must make a prompt and accurate determination to prevent any further harm to the child's welfare. Court action will be initiated when it is in the best interest of the child.