Connecticut defines child abuse anything a parent, caretaker, or other person does or fails to do that results in the harm or potential harm of a child. This includes physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional maltreatment, physical neglect, medical neglect, educational neglect, and moral neglect.

(Source: Connecticut Children and Families)

In the state of Connecticut clergy are listed among mandated reporters. Privileged communication is not addressed in the Connecticut statutes and therefore should not be considered exempt from mandatory reporting requirements.

(Source: Connecticut Law Sec. 17a-101)

Reports must be made as soon as abuse or neglect is suspected.

Mandated reporters include:

• Physicians/surgeons, any resident physician/intern, any registered nurse,/licensed practical nurse, any medical examiner
• any dentist/dental hygienist
• any psychologist/any person who is a licensed behavior analyst/family relations counselor, trainee or family services supervisor employed by the Judicial Department/any victim services advocate employed by the Office of Victim Services within the Judicial Department
• any school employee/any person with a coaching permit by the State Board of Education/is a coach of intermural or interscholastic athletics/any person employed as a coach or director of youth athletics/ any administrator, faculty, staff, athletic director, coach, or trainer employed by a public or private higher education institution
• any social worker/police officer/juvenile or adult probation or parole officer
• any member of the clergy
• any pharmacist/physical therapist/optometrist/chiropractor/podiatrist/mental health professional/physician assistant
• any licensed or certified alcohol or drug counselor/marital and family counselor/sexual assault or domestic violence counselor/professional counselor
• any licensed foster parent/paid child care worker/Employee of the Department of Children and Families/employee of the Office of Early Childhood responsible for licensing
• any youth camp director, assistant director, or staff member age 21 and older
• the Child Advocate and any employee of the Office of the Child Advocate
• any employee of a juvenile justice program operated by or pursuant to a contract with the Court Support Services Division of the Judicial Department/any person employed or contracted and any independent ombudsperson, to work at a juvenile detention facility or any other facility where children under eighteen years of age are detained and who has direct contact with children as part of such employment.

Failure to report will result in a class A misdemeanor or a class E felony if the the violation was willful or intentional, or the person had actual knowledge that a child was abused/neglected. Intentionally and unreasonably interfering with or preventing a report being made/attempt or conspiracy to do so will result in a class D felony.

(Source: Connecticut Law Sec. 17a-101, Sec. 17a-101o)