Child abandonment, neglect and abuse are all serious crimes. While not every state has a specific child abandonment statute, all states criminalize behavior that endangers or risks the health and well-being of a child. As a potential witness, or victim, in the criminal justice process, you cannot file charges against anyone. However, you can serve a vital role in ensuring anyone committing child abuse or abandonment is brought to justice by the state.
Step 1
Collect evidence. You don't have to have a videotape or recording of any suspected child abandonment, but any evidence you can collect will likely help any subsequent prosecution. Simply writing down your recollections or impressions when you suspect child abandonment can help in court.
Step 2
Contact the police. The police are responsible for investigating any suspected crime. These investigations often begin with people, like you, who contact the police and make a statement, file a report or issue a complaint. You don't have to know anything about the criminal laws in your state, merely tell the police what you believe so they can start their investigation. Always be honest when talking to the police, as making false statements to them is a crime.
Step 3
Follow up with the prosecutor's office. Once the police conduct their investigation, it is up to the prosecutor's office to file criminal charges. You can usually follow-up on your report to the police by contacting the prosecutor's office in your area, asking about the case and making yourself available for further interviews with investigators.
Tips and Warnings
- Talk to a lawyer before reporting a suspected crime. Anytime you talk to the police, even if you have no culpability in the criminal activity, you run some risk of being charged with a crime. Talk to an experienced criminal defense attorney in your area and ask how best to protect yourself during the criminal justice process.
- If the child abuse is immediate, poses danger to you or anyone else, or requires police presence you can call 911 for immediate assistance. If not, call your local law enforcement agency directly, not through 911, or submit an online report.
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