My son's girlfriend (they are 14) has told him she is being sexually abused by her step-father but does not want to go to any authority beca...

Question

My son's girlfriend (they are 14) has told him she is being sexually abused by her step-father but does not want to go to any authority because she is afriad her mother could be prosected for not going to police or CPS before now. I assume the mother does know this has happened. So, what are the legal ramifications to the mother? I want to have something to tell her when I confront her before I go to the police or CPS.

Answer

If I know that a child has been sexually abused - your child or my child - I have a legal duty to report it to the authorities. FALURE TO REPORT child abuse is child abuse. Take a look here:

http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/FA/htm/FA.261.htm

Believe it or not, people have been arrested for failing to report child abuse.

As much as I dislike CPS, I have to tell you: You have a legal duty to contact them.