Mandated reporter public situation - Adoption.com Forums

I'm not sure whether I would film it or call 911 right away. If was fairly sure there were cameras filming I'd call 911, but otherwise I might worry about getting some evidence and film it. If I had a buddy there or another onlooker with a smart phone seemed cooperative I'd quietly ask that they film while I call or vice versa.

I read a study in grad school that silence from the public implies consent and agreement with the abusive parent to the child, and that even if the parent is harsher with the child after a stranger tells them off for the abuse, it is helpful to the child to know that others see that's what's going on is not okay and not their fault. Not sure how true that is, and I'm sure there are exceptions, but it was an interesting study. I saw a boy being verbally abused in a laundromat by his mom, just getting hollered at and cussed at for every little thing, or nothing at all. I walked over when she took a load out to the car and said I thought it was sad she was treating him that way and that I could see he was doing his best. Not sure if that was the right thing to do, and in most cases I wouldn't comment on a parent to their child, but he looked about to implode or something. He gave me a weak smile and kept on folding at warp speed. Nothing I could call the cops about, and confronting that parent would likely have led to a very violent confrontation in front of my children, but I felt I had to say something to that child.

There was a case a few years ago where a mom was abusive with her little girl in a mall and kept whacking her in her carseat in the parking lot, and the security footage was released to the media to help catch her and be sure that the child was okay. She was an Irish Traveler and not at all willing to cooperate with the authorities, so it became a big case in the news. I don't know how it turned out but know they took it seriously.

Source: http://forums.adoption.com/foster-parent-support/409052-mandated-reporter-public-situation.html

earthquake california earthquake california roy orbison the third man 2012 nfl draft order mohamed sanu chris polk