The obligation to report sexual abuse of minors and incompetents: Theory and practice

Ruth Landau*, Rujla Osmo

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

This article examines social workers' compliance with the law requiring reporting each case of sexual abuse of children or otherwise incompetent persons. In a random representative sample of 212 Israeli social workers, participants were asked to relate to an ethical dilemma concerning sexual abuse. The resolution of the ethical dilemma was measured by choice of one of the following: system oriented decision, client-oriented decision, combined client-system decision, and nonintervention. Participants in the study were also requested to provide reasons for their choice. The content of the arguments was analyzed by its relation to the ambiguity of the situation presented in the ethical dilemma, its relation to comply with the law, and the relationship between the reported choice and its argumentation. Moreover, social workers' compliance with the law was also analyzed by their field of practice. Findings showed that 52% of the social workers would report sexual abuse. The rate of social workers in the field of child welfare who would report sexual abuse is higher (70%). Among those respondents who gave reasons for their decision, only 24% related to the lack of adequate information in the presented vignette. Seventy one percent of those who explained their choice cited the legal requirement to report, and, of those, 73% evidenced a relationship between their reported choice and their reason. The article shows the ambiguity of the law regarding the obligation to report sexual abuse of children and discusses the implications of the findings for its implementation.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)239-258
Number of pages20
JournalChildren and Youth Services Review
Volume21
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1999

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