How do I report abuse in the state of Florida?

Question

My twenty something year old cousin is mentally handicapped (she has mental retardation). Approximately ten years ago her father killed her mom and he's currently spending life in prison. Because both she and her brother have mental retardation, they have a court appointed attorney (or lawyer...i'm not one hundred percent sure). My grandparents have custody of her. Today my cousin came running over, screaming something about my grandfather was trying to kill her. I called my dad because I really didn't know what to do (I'm eighteen years old). My dad told me to take her to his business and he'd solve the problem. At around five my grandmother dropped my cousin off, saying that she was going to look for a new place to live. I'm almost positive that this is abandonment, abuse, etc. I'm just not sure how to go about reporting it? Any advice would be great.

Answer 1

Call her attorney and let him know if he is in charge.

If you don't know his name and your cousin doesn't either, call the department of health and they can sort it out for you, anonymously.

Answer 2

just call 911

Answer 3

It sounds like the best thing to do would be to get custody of your cousins from your grandparents if your family is able to care for them.  Otherwise, if they abandon your cousins someone will have to take over custody and foster homes are not often pleasant places.

That would have to be up to your parents, of course, or other family members, but you should do whatever you can to look out for your cousins.  It wouldn't be necessary to turn them in for abuse if they willingly gave over custody.  If they did not, then you might have to use the abuses against them.

It would be best to get the whole story from your cousins as best you can, file a police report about the situation, and let the law handle it.  In the meantime, custody should be sought from your grandparents.

Their court appointed attorney would be a good place to start.

Answer 4

just call your local police and they will tell you what to do