Mandatory reporting bill will protect children from abuse, Maricopa County Attorney Mitchell says

Advocates for survivors of sexual violence say an Arizona bill to strengthen requirements on mandatory reporters will save children from abuse.

The measure would clarify requirements for mandatory reporters at K-12 schools who are informed of potential sexual abuse of children.

It would also add substitute teachers and school board members as mandatory reporters.

So far, it’s advanced with bipartisan support at the state Capitol.

Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said some cases have gone nowhere because schools didn’t handle reporting properly. Oftentimes, personnel will try to handle the problem internally.

“A school official who does not follow the child abuse protocol could be the difference, and has been the difference, between achieving justice for the victim or the offender not being held accountable at all,” she said.

Werner noted that she’s prosecuted people for failure to report and will do so again.

The bill stipulates that mandatory reporters don’t fulfill their duty by telling a supervisor or school resource officer about the abuse. The report must go to a law enforcement agency.

“Sadly, what I have seen is some school administrators are attempting to handle these cases on their own, at times sweeping the offenses under the rug unknowingly or knowingly and failing to hold these predators accountable,” bill sponsor Sen. Carine Werner (R-Scottsdale) said.

Werner said the bill is inspired by numerous cases she found out about as a school board member.