Child Abuse / Neglect Reporting

Make a Report

Call the Department of Social Services at 252-636-4948 during normal business hours, 8:00 am to 5 pm.  Outside of normal business hours and on holidays, please call the Craven County Sheriff’s Department at 252-633-6620 and ask for the On Call Social Worker.  You will be given information on how and when you will be contacted.  

Please note that reports can be made 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.  
Your name and information, if you choose to leave it, will be kept confidential.  

Mandated Reporters

North Carolina has a mandatory reporting law, NCGS § 7B-301 that states "any person or institution who has cause to suspect that any juvenile is abused, neglected, or dependent, as defined by NCGS § 7B-101, or has died as the result of maltreatment, shall report the case of that juvenile to the director of the department of social services in the county where the juvenile resides or is found."

The intent of this legislation is to encourage reporting to the proper authority situations in which children may be at risk. It does not require that the reporter possess any information beyond a cause to suspect abuse, neglect and/or dependency. The reporter is not required to have witnessed the abuse, neglect, and/or dependency, or to have firsthand knowledge.

A person who makes a report of suspected child abuse, neglect, and/or dependency is immune from civil or criminal liability if the report was made in good faith. Immunity is also guaranteed to anyone who cooperates with the county child welfare agency in its CPS Assessment, testifies in any court action resulting from the report, or participates in authorized procedures or programs for screening and responding to reports of abuse, neglect, and/or dependency.

Process After Report is Made

The report is screened to see if it meets the criteria for a report based on the North Carolina General Statute. If it meets the criteria, the report will be accepted for assessment.  Letters of notification will be sent to the reporter once the report has been screened and determined to be accepted or not based on North Carolina General Statutes.  Please note that reporter letters will not be sent to individuals who report anonymously or waive their right to notification.