How to Make a Report to the Justice Center

Report suspected abuse or neglect: 1-855-373-2122

The Vulnerable Persons Central Register (VPCR) is a toll-free hotline and incident reporting system for allegations of abuse and neglect, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.   

Anyone can make a report to the Vulnerable Persons Central Register (VPCR) hotline if they have reason to believe that a person receiving care from any agency or provider under Justice Center jurisdiction has been abused, neglected, or mistreated.

For more information on what constitutes a reportable incident, view our page on mandated reporting.

Some people—known as Mandated Reporters—are required to report to the VPCR.   Mandated Reporters include provider agency staff and human service professionals who, by nature of their job, must report allegations of abuse and neglect.  Mandated reporters include direct support staff, clinicians, administrative staff, and other professionals in the human services field. 

When making a report to the Justice Center, it may be helpful to gather the following information.  

You do not have to know all the answers to these questions to make a report.  

• Details regarding the victim, subjects, and witnesses
• Details of the incident, including the date, time, location, and description of the incident
• Responsible State Oversight Agency  
  • The State Oversight Agency is the state agency responsible for regulating the provider or program.  See all SOAs under the Justice Center’s jurisdiction.
• Name and address of the provider agency, facility, and/or program
• Name, title, and contact information of others who may have the same information as you
• Any other information that may assist with the investigation or review of the incident. A call center representative will provide instructions on how to submit photo or video evidence.  

Reporter information is confidential and is only utilized for investigative purposes. Reporting information may be shared only if it is lawful to do so, for example, sharing with law enforcement if state and federal laws allow.  

Immunity from Liability: The law grants Mandated Reporters and other reporters immunity from any legal claims that may arise from a good-faith act of providing information to the VPCR. Immunity will not be granted to someone found to be making an intentionally false report.

Protection from Retaliation: State laws protect mandated reporters from retaliation. A state agency, facility, or provider agency, school, medical or other public or private institution, cannot take any retaliatory personnel action, as defined in the Labor Law, Section 740 (1)(e), against an employee or agent because that person, acting in good faith, makes a report to the VPCR. If you believe that you are being retaliated against for making a report, you should call the VPCR to make a report.

If you believe that you are being retaliated against for making a report, you should call the VPCR to make a report. 

Malicious false reporting is intentionally making a report to the Justice Center that the reporter knows is false. This includes using a false identity or providing false information with the intent to harm, harass, or mislead. It is important to distinguish between good-faith reporting and malicious false reporting.

False reporting takes critical resources away from investigating legitimate cases. It is against the law and could result in criminal charges.

When you report to the Justice Center with a genuine concern that someone is being abused or mistreated, it is a good-faith report. This is never considered a malicious false report, even if the information you have is limited or the incident could not be verified.