By Associated Press
Frankfort, KY – Unlike Pennsylvania, where coaches, doctors and other professionals only have to report suspected child abuse to a supervisor, Kentucky law requires anyone suspecting abuse to report it to police, prosecutors or Child Protective Services. Kentucky Youth Advocates director Terry Brooks tells The Courier-Journal that means that if what happened at Penn State had happened at any Kentucky University there would have been a lot of people who broke the law. Kentucky is one of 18 states requiring everyone - not just professionals who work with children - to report suspected abuse or neglect. Violations are a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail and a $250 fine. However, prosecutions for failure to report are rare. Fifty-seven people have been charged with that offense since 2006.