- Per MN Statutesection 626.556. Subd.3(a), police officers are mandated reporters and are required to immediately report cases of child abuse in which an officer knows or believes a child (under the age of 18) has been neglected, physically or sexually abused.
- Physical and sexual child abuse offenses only include cases in which the actor or suspect:
- is a person responsible for the child’s care;
- has a significant relationship to the child (parent or legal guardian or caretaker); or
- is a person in a position of authority over the child as defined by MN Statute section 609.341.
- In such cases, the responding officer shall complete a Police Report with the code for Child Abuse (CHILDAB).
- The Police Report shall be completed even if the child abuse offense may have occurred in another jurisdiction.
- Upon receipt of the Police Report, the Crimes Against Children unit shall cross-report all abuse cases with Hennepin County Child Protection and will cross-report statewide as necessary for investigation.
Definitions
Refer to the Commonly Used Terms page for general definitions.
- Investigation: A structured process of gathering, examining, and evaluating facts and evidence to determine what occurred, assess compliance with laws and policies, and support appropriate actions or decisions.
- Parent/Legal Guardian: "Parent" means the birth or adoptive mother or father of a child and does not apply to a person whose parental rights have been terminated in relation to the child. A legal "guardian" is a person who has been appointed by a judge or social services agency, to take care of a minor child (to include foster parents).
- Police Report: A report or statement in a report that sets forth the officer's account of an incident and is entered into the MPD's Records Management System.