THOSE REQUIRED TO REPORT CHILD ABUSE IN MARYLAND SHOULD BE PUNISHED IF THEY DON’T

The Penn State scandal is a troubling example of how critical it is for people to report sexual child abuse if they witness it or hear it from the victim. Otherwise many more lives can be damaged as additional victims are preyed upon by the pedophile.

In Maryland now people are required to report child abuse to police or social services with few exceptions, yet surprisingly there is no criminal penalty if they don’t. Although the law does say teachers can be dismissed or suspended from their job for not reporting that abuse.

I believe there should be a criminal penalty for not reporting child abuse as required under law. I have begun to draft a bill to accomplish that. I am working with a State’s Attorney, Sexual Assault Centers and others to decide just what that penalty should be.

I hope you will support me in this effort. If you know someone in our state convicted of sexual child abuse that could have been caught earlier had people come forth to report it, please respond with an e-mail on this web site and we will contact you.

If you want to testify on such a bill send us your e-mail and we will try to keep you informed when the bill is heard by lawmakers in committee.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL:
Suzanne Collins
Chief of Staff
410-841-3158

Thank you for your support!.