Under what condition will ChildLine refer a report of abuse to a county agency and law enforcement?

ChildLine will refer a report of abuse to a county agency and law enforcement specifically when a criminal offense is alleged against a child. This referral is critical because abuse that constitutes a criminal act requires an immediate and coordinated response from both child protective services and law enforcement to ensure the safety of the child and to investigate the allegations comprehensively.

When a report contains allegations of a criminal offense, it triggers legal obligations and protocols that demand a thorough investigation by law enforcement, along with the necessary interventions by social services. This collaborative approach aims to address the immediate safety concerns for the child while also ensuring that proper legal proceedings can follow if the allegations are substantiated.

In contrast, reports that are anonymous may still be assessed but do not automatically guarantee a referral to law enforcement unless they involve serious allegations. Similarly, if a child is over 18 or the abuse is historical, these situations generally fall outside of the mandatory reporting requirements; cases involving individuals who are no longer minors or events that have occurred in the past may not require the same immediate response from authorities. Therefore, the presence of an alleged criminal offense is the key factor that necessitates a dual referral to both a county agency and law enforcement.