Brief Summary of Cross-Reporting Laws for Child Abuse and Animal Abuse
Tarun Bishop (2021)
Over the years, there has been increasing public awareness of issues surrounding animal cruelty, child abuse, and interconnectedness of these issues. This awareness has led to increased discussion of "The Link": correlation between human-on-animal violence and human-on-human violence. The legal system has made various advancements in addressing these issues in various manners, notably by enacting mandatory reporting laws, which require certain professionals to report suspected child abuse or animal cruelty. Recently, some of these laws have extended into cross-reporting laws, which require child protection professionals to report suspected animal abuse and vice versa. These laws empower professionals to take action to curb patterns of violence. However, there is still more work to do, as many states have not enacted cross-reporting laws.
Research has uncovered a variety of impacts of violence on children. Children who are abused themselves or who witness violence toward others are more likely to experience lasting trauma from these experiences, and are more likely to inflict violence on others. Surveys of college students and prisoners have uncovered these concerning patterns. Women who have experienced abuse also report higher rates of animal cruelty in their homes, perhaps five to ten times as high as women who have not experienced domestic abuse.
Another important element is children's view of pets. As a general rule, children have warm bonds with pets. Thus, abusers can exploit this when they threaten to harm pets if the children do not obey the abusers. Two-thirds of adolescents in psychiatric wards have also experienced loss of a favorite pet, and many say this is as bad as verbal or physical abuse.
Cross-reporting laws can cover a variety of types of abuse, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, and neglect.
It is important to discuss both benefits and risks of mandatory cross-reporting laws. On the one hand, child and animal abuse are underreported, which makes it ever more important to identify these kinds of abuse when possible. Further, if child and animal protection agencies are overburdened, it can be useful if they can work together, as this fosters collaboration in uprooting patterns of violence and abuse. On the other hand, false reporting is possible, and if this occurs, one may be falsely accused and prosecuted for abuse. In addition, people of color and people from other minority groups may be more likely than others to be falsely accused, and if they are prosecuted, they may be treated more harshly.
Overview of Cross-Reporting Laws for Child Abuse and Animal Abuse
Tarun Bishop (2021)
Over the years, there has been increasing public awareness of issues surrounding animal cruelty, child abuse, and interconnectedness of these issues. This awareness has led to increased discussion of "The Link": correlation between human-on-animal violence and human-on-human violence. The legal system has made various advancements in addressing these issues in various manners, notably by enacting mandatory reporting laws, which require certain professionals to report suspected child abuse or animal cruelty. Recently, some of these laws have extended into cross-reporting laws, which require child protection professionals to report suspected animal abuse and vice versa. These laws empower professionals to take action to curb patterns of violence. However, there is still more work to do, as many states have not enacted cross-reporting laws.
Research has uncovered a variety of impacts of violence on children. Children who are abused, or who witness violence toward others, are more likely to experience lasting trauma from these experiences, and are more likely to inflict violence on others in childhood or adulthood. These patterns apply to both human-on-human violence and human-on-animal violence. In addition, those who experience violence in the home are more likely to report animal cruelty occurring in the home as well. Surveys of college students and prisoners have uncovered these concerning patterns. Women who have experienced abuse also report higher rates of animal cruelty in their homes, perhaps five to ten times as high as women who have not experienced domestic abuse.
Another important element is children's view of pets. As a general rule, children have warm bonds with pets. Thus, abusers can exploit this when they threaten to harm pets if the children do not obey the abusers. Two-thirds of adolescents in psychiatric wards have also experienced loss of a favorite pet, and many say this is as bad as verbal or physical abuse.
When a particular household is identified as one in which violence is occurring, prompt interventions can help to halt patterns of violence that would not have been identified. Thus, cross-reporting laws can be useful, because when child protection and animal protection organizations work together and cross-report abuse to one another, child and animal protection organizations can address such patterns of violence that they would otherwise have not known existed in a particular household. At a basic level, violence begets violence, and cross-reporting laws can help to address such patterns sooner.
Cross-reporting laws can cover a variety of types of abuse, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional or psychological abuse, and neglect. Each state or territory phrases its law somewhat differently, but they each attempt to encapsulate the importance of cross-reporting. For example, in Connecticut, state employees who work with children and families are required to report suspected animal “harm, neglect or cruelty.” In the District of Columbia, “[a]ny law enforcement or child or protective services employee who knows of or has reasonable cause to suspect an animal has been the victim of cruelty, abandonment, or neglect, or observes an animal at the home of a person reasonably suspected of child, adult, or animal abuse, shall provide a report within 2 business days to the Mayor. If the health and welfare of the animal is in immediate danger, the report shall be made within 6 hours.” Thus, both of these laws cover a wide variety of cruelty, as neglect and active cruelty are somewhat distinct, yet both can inflict a large amount of damage.
It is important to discuss both benefits and risks of mandatory cross-reporting laws. On the one hand, child and animal abuse are underreported, which makes it ever more important to identify these kinds of abuse when possible. Further, if child and animal protection agencies are overburdened, it can be useful if they can work together, as this fosters collaboration in uprooting patterns of violence and abuse. On the other hand, false reporting is possible, and if this occurs, one may be falsely accused and prosecuted for abuse. In addition, people of color and people from other minority groups may be more likely than others to be falsely accused, and if they are prosecuted, they may be treated more harshly. Thus, in implementing cross-reporting laws, it is important to take an intersectional approach to minimize these risks.