NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
MANDATORY REPORTING LAWS
MANDATORY REPORTING LAWS
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Professionals required to report
Citation: Commonwealth Code Tit. 6, § 5313
Reports are required from the following:
• Any health-care worker, including anesthesiologists, acupuncturists, chiropractors, dentists, health aides, hypnotists, massage therapists, mental health counselors, midwives, nurses, nurse practitioners, osteopaths, naturopaths, physical therapists, physicians, physician’s assistants, psychiatrists, psychologists, radiologists, religious healing practitioners, surgeons, or x-ray technicians
• Teachers or other school officials
• Daycare providers, nannies, au pair workers, or any other person who is entrusted with the temporary care of a minor child in return for compensation, except babysitters who are themselves minor children
• Counselors or social workers
• Peace officers or other law enforcement officials
Other persons required to report
Citation: Commonwealth Code Tit. 6, § 5313
Any other person may at any time report known or suspected instances of child abuse or neglect.
Institutional responsibility to report
This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed.
WHAT ARE THEY REQUIRED TO REPORT
Citation: Commonwealth Code Tit. 6, § 5313
A report is required when a mandated reporter comes into contact in a professional capacity with a child who the person knows or has reasonable cause to suspect is abused or neglected.
PENALTIES FOR FAILING TO REPORT
Failure to Report
Citation: Commonwealth Code Tit. 6, §§ 5315; 5316
Knowing or willful failure of any person to make a report pursuant to § 5313 shall, upon conviction, be punished by one or both of the following:
• Imprisonment for up to 1 year
• A fine of not more than $1,000
Knowing or willful interference by any person with the good-faith efforts of any person making or attempting to make a report under this chapter shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment for up to 1 year or a fine of $1,000, or both.
PENALTIES FOR FALSE REPORTING
This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed.
PRIVILEGED COMMUNICATIONS
Citation: Commonwealth Code Tit. 6, § 5317
Common law and statutory privileges as to communications between husband and wife and a professional person and his or her patient or client, except for that between attorney and client, do not apply to communications relating to the reporting of child abuse offenses.
REPORTER’S IDENTITY
Inclusion of Reporter’s Name in Report
The reporter is not specifically required by statute to provide his or her name in the report.
Disclosure of Reporter Identity
Citation: Commonwealth Code Tit. 6, § 5325
The release of data that would identify the person who made a report of suspected child abuse or the person who cooperated in a subsequent investigation is prohibited.
The information provided is solely for informational purposes and is not legal advice. To determine the Northern Mariana Islands mandatory reporting laws in a particular case, contact a lawyer in the state.
MIKE RINDER
Mike Rinder was born and raised in Australia by scientologist parents. He joined scientology’s elite corps, the Sea Org at 18, and rose to sit on the board of the Church of Scientology International and become scientology’s international spokesperson for more than 20 years as well as heading its Office of Special Affairs.
In 2007 he escaped scientology. His entire family disconnected from him. He became a whistleblower against scientology abuses which has culminated in three seasons of the Emmy award winning Leah Remini: Scientology and The Aftermath. That show has changed public perception of scientology and given a voice to many of its victims.