How to Report Sexual Abuse

Co-authored by Natalia S. David, PsyD

Last Updated: May 19, 2021 References

Sexual abuse is a crime that affects many people. You can help victims by reporting suspected abuse to the appropriate authorities. Don’t delay simply because you aren’t 100% sure it happened. All you need is “reasonable suspicion,” so document the reasons why you think abuse has occurred before calling the authorities.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Gathering Information

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Note physical signs of sexual abuse. Children who are being sexually abused often have difficulty walking or sitting. They may also experience pain when going to the bathroom.^{[1]
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- Adults who are being sexually abused might have unexplained bruises or scratch marks on their body.
- It’s not your job to investigate the victim beyond what you observe by interacting with them normally. Don’t interrogate them with personal questions about their body or remove, for example, a child’s pants or shirt to check for signs of abuse. This can be traumatizing for victims.^{[2]
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2
Pay attention to behavioral changes that indicate child abuse. Many times, sexual abuse only shows up in changes to behavior. Some of the following behavioral changes, by themselves, do not suggest child abuse. However, if you notice multiple changes, then you should question further. Note the following changes in children:^{[3]
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- Sudden changes in appetite
- Trouble sleeping at night without any explanation
- Rapid changes in mood, such as rage, insecurity, or fear
- The use of adult words for body parts
- Playing with toys or other children in a sexual manner
- The sudden appearance of a new adult friend coupled with new toys or unexplained money
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3
Note behavioral changes in adults. Adults who have been sexually abused sometimes exhibit the following symptoms. As with children, one symptom isn’t proof that sexual abuse has happened. However, multiple symptoms should inspire you to investigate further:^{[4]
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- Substance abuse
- Suicidal thoughts
- Eating problems
- Increased aggression
- An unexplained loss of interest in sex
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Withdrawal
- Isolation
- Hypervigilance
- Self-harm
4
Listen to the victim if they open up to you. If the victim willingly tells you about the abuse, do your best to listen to them and reassure them that they'll get the help they need. Remember what they do disclose, but avoid asking about details, as this is a delicate subject and may make the victim uncomfortable. Instead, leave these questions to the authorities and professionals.
- Emphasize that you believe the victim and tell them it isn’t their fault.^{[5]
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- Tell the victim you’re going to get help, but don’t make promises such as, “We’re going to lock him up.”
5
Write down your own observations. You might have seen abuse or suspicious behavior. As soon as possible, write down what you saw. Note the date, time, location, and the identity of the perpetrator.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Reporting the Abuse to the Authorities

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Decide whether to report anonymously. In most situations, you can report a crime without giving your identity. Carefully weigh whether you want to provide your name and number.
- If you don’t, then the authorities can’t follow up with you. They also can’t call on you to testify against the abuser if charges are brought.^{[6]
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- However, you might want to remain anonymous if you’re afraid of the suspected abuser yourself.
2
Call the appropriate office. If you think an adult is being sexually abused, you should call the police. Look up the phone number in the phone book or call emergency services.
- If you think a child is being sexually abused by a caregiver, you can call Child Protective Services. If you think a non-caregiver is abusing the child, then call the police.^{[7]
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- In the United States, you can also call the ChildHelp hotline at 1-800-4ACHILD. The hotline is available 24 hours a day, and all calls are confidential.^{[8]
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Provide basic information about the victim. When you call, identify yourself and state you want to report suspected sexual abuse. Then give the authorities the following information about the victim:^{[9]
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- Name
- Age, if they are a child
- The victim’s location
- Any mental or physical disabilities the victim has^{[10]
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Describe your suspicions. Tell the authorities why you suspect sexual abuse. Provide as much detail as necessary to convey why you have a good faith reason to suspect someone has been victimized. Stick only to the facts that you have observed and don’t speculate.^{[11]
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Research source} For example, you can say, “Megan has trouble sitting down and says her bottom hurts all the time. She has also been using sexual language that I haven’t heard her use before.”
- Tell the authorities who you suspect is abusing the victim. Give a name if you have one. Otherwise, you should describe the abuser in as much detail as possible.
- Report when the abuse took place, if you know that information.^{[12]
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Provide any other requested information. If you are reporting child abuse, the authorities might want to know if there are other children in the home, as well as their names and ages.^{[13]
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Avoid calling a child’s parents. For all you know, one of the parents might be sexually abusing the child. By telling them, you tip them off that someone is about to report the abuse.^{[14]
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- Likewise, you don’t need to notify an adult’s spouse or partner, who could also be the abuser.
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Report suspected Internet pornography. If you think child pornography has been involved in the abuse, you should contact an appropriate agency in your country.
- In the U.S., you can contact the Cybertipline at 1-800-843-5678 or online at www.cybertipline.com.
- Outside the U.S., you can visit the INHOPE: International Association of Internet Hotlines, which contains an international directory.^{[15]
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Provide any other helpful information. After receiving your complaint, the authorities will investigate. Typically, you have no right to know the status of the investigation or its results. However, you might be contacted to provide additional information. Comply with these requests as quickly as you can.