On the new Regents Policy on Reporting Suspected Child Abuse
It's required to comply with law, but...there's a problem.
posted almost 13 years ago
I'm concerned about some ramifications of the new policy on reporting abuse here at UMBC, specifically to the police. Specifically, I have observed when helping friends who have been abused that making police reports too early in the process of escaping an abuser is counter-productive and, due to woefully inadequate police policy in potential abuse cases, tends to 'tip off' the abuser as it were, which is likely to trigger both an escalation in abuse and wariness of any escape attempts by the abused.
Successful escape and support of the abused party requires, in my limited experience, fairly tight information security and high degrees of confidentiality this policy does not allow for. I understand it means well, and early reporting is very important in some cases, but mandatory reporting is problematic as it often invariably ends up causing the abused to refrain from telling their story, for risk of escalated abuse.
That's fucked up.
Reporting to police and institutional personnel should be mandatory only with the victim's consent, and strict confidentiality ought to be observed until the proper evidence can be gathered to involve the authorities.
I have spoken to, for instance, an individual in New York who's ex-military father has literally forced their son to perform pushups for 3 hours straight. Over the course of the 'training' the individual was denied access to water (No water plus physical conditioning.) and forced to continue after developing RSI's in their shoulder, and reportedly a stomach ulcer after some time doing situps. The police were unable to act, as the abuse did not involve physical striking and so did not leave marks, and the individual's age prevented them from having access to CPS(Too old). When the police did turn up, it reportedly triggered extended isolation (3/4 weeks locked in their room). Unless something has happened that individual is still living with their father. They dropped off the face of the net in early 2011.
I'm sorry, but a requirement to contact police is not going to help that individual. They need access to medical treatment, free mental health services, and financial/logistical support leaving their situation. Maybe once they no longer run the risk of needing to return to their abuser we can talk about a prosecution.
Successful escape and support of the abused party requires, in my limited experience, fairly tight information security and high degrees of confidentiality this policy does not allow for. I understand it means well, and early reporting is very important in some cases, but mandatory reporting is problematic as it often invariably ends up causing the abused to refrain from telling their story, for risk of escalated abuse.
That's fucked up.
Reporting to police and institutional personnel should be mandatory only with the victim's consent, and strict confidentiality ought to be observed until the proper evidence can be gathered to involve the authorities.
I have spoken to, for instance, an individual in New York who's ex-military father has literally forced their son to perform pushups for 3 hours straight. Over the course of the 'training' the individual was denied access to water (No water plus physical conditioning.) and forced to continue after developing RSI's in their shoulder, and reportedly a stomach ulcer after some time doing situps. The police were unable to act, as the abuse did not involve physical striking and so did not leave marks, and the individual's age prevented them from having access to CPS(Too old). When the police did turn up, it reportedly triggered extended isolation (3/4 weeks locked in their room). Unless something has happened that individual is still living with their father. They dropped off the face of the net in early 2011.
I'm sorry, but a requirement to contact police is not going to help that individual. They need access to medical treatment, free mental health services, and financial/logistical support leaving their situation. Maybe once they no longer run the risk of needing to return to their abuser we can talk about a prosecution.
