[DP_2017]

Hi,

So I was having a chat with an online friend who has a T earlier. She is very confused/concerned about something and was asking me things that I could not answer, so I told her I would ask here to maybe help her out

I guess there is some current abuse, not sure what type, going on in her family. She did not say to whom, but said she has witnessed it often but is scared to ruin her family by saying anything.

So she was asking me the following, does anyone know the answers??

-- If she tells her T and her T reports it, does anything happen to them such has her T referring her to someone else?

--What exactly happens when a an abuse report is filed? Will her family know it was her who said something? Will some of her family end up in jail?

She is in the USA

Any help would be great so I can try to help her with her decision. Thank you

[AllHeart]

I don't think there is any way anyone here can answer those questions with the lack of information about the situation. Also, not all t's operate the same. Just because a t isn't ethically obligated to report a situation doesn't mean they won't if they have enough victim identification information to do so (ie. names, addresses).

Maybe your friend could ask her own t to know for sure, posing her questions as hypotheticals and not giving away any identification of others.

[DP_2017]

Thanks, I kind of encouraged her to do that as well, ask questions that way to her T.... I did not want to be too intrusive and ask for details so yes I agree, it's a bit tough without more info. Hope she can work it out, I suggested she maybe sign up for this forum as well...

[RaineD]

**DISCLAIMER: The following is not legal advice. If you are in need of legal advice, please seek out an attorney in the relevant jurisdiction.**

It depends on the type of abuse and the victim. If it's a domestic violence-type situation and the victim is an adult, your friend's therapist would not necessarily have to report it. (The law on mandatory reporting may vary by state, but, where I am, there is no requirement to report anything if the victim is an adult.) But if the therapist believes that a child is in danger, the therapist is required to report it.

In any case, there is no reason why her therapist would have to refer her to someone else, particularly since (it sounds like) she isn't involved in the abuse in any way.

Whether someone could end up in jail again depends on the type of abuse. If it's domestic violence or child abuse (whether physical or sexual), then, yes, someone could very well end up in jail.

[atisketatasket]

Also abuse of a vulnerable adult (elders, handicapped, etc.) must be reported is listed on all my therapists’ paperwork.

[ruh roh]

In addition to the above comments, I would add that the abuse is ruining her family more than the reporting of it ever could.

[RubyRae]

Originally Posted by ruh roh

In addition to the above comments, I would add that the abuse is ruining her family more than the reporting of it ever could.

[kecanoe]

I am in the USA, but I know that laws vary from state to state. In Illinois, Ts are required to report abuse that involves vulnerable populations. That would include children, elderly, people with mental or physical disabilities. If it is verbal abuse, it is a gray area.

Reports can be made anonymously. In Illinois, when there is a report of abuse DCFS (Department of Children and Family Services) does an investigation. This usually involves interviewing the family members. Frequently children will be interviewed at school so that the parent isn't able to influence the child. They would also look at medical records.

Jail time depends on a lot of factors. Type of abuse, severity of abuse, length of time the abuse has been going on. Probation and compulsory counseling are sometimes the result. Or, if DCFS finds there is cause, they can remove the child(ren) even if there is not enough evidence to take the case to trial. In that case, parents are given a list of things they need to do to get their children returned to the home.

Your friend can also call a hotline and report the abuse anonymously. That will trigger an investigation (again, if a vulnerable person is involved). They do not need to tell their T to get things going to protect their family members.

[DP_2017]

Thanks for all the info, I've passed it along to her. I hope to speak to her tomorrow again and maybe find out what she will do.