Q: Do state mandatory reporting laws apply to federal offenses?
Suppose someone has information about abuse or any felony while in one state, and the act is also illegal at the federal level, but they are not a mandatory reporter. Then they travel to a state where they are a mandatory reporter. Upon arrival in that state, even though the crime occurred in another state, but because the act is also illegal at the federal level, would they be required to report the suspected abuse or commission of the crime? Put another way, do state mandatory reporting laws only apply to acts that are crimes at the state level and committed within that state? Would federal crimes committed in another state also be covered?
A: Generally, mandatory reporters must report anything that they have actual knowledge of - regardless of where it occurred or what type of law applies. Furthermore, given that not reporting when it has been determined that you should have reported is considered a serious issue, it's safer to overreport than to underreport.
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