Research studies show as many as 40 percent of professionals violate mandatory reporting laws. In a national study categorizing reporting practices, those that reported on a sporadic basis were termed "discretionary reporters." Since these well-trained professionals who serve the middle class might benefit from a flexible option system, the monitoring of middle-class abuse may improve. Potential benefits of a new system include a decrease in investigating cases which are already being supervised by child abuse professionals. Energies could be directed to investigations where no professional was involved. To improve practices, formal guidelines and a monitoring system should be established so that child abuse professionals are not operating in a covert manner. With a more flexible system that acknowledges the expertise of professionals, the tense relationship between the law and child abuse professionals could be replaced by cooperation. Under a new system, professionals who never report would be forced into compliance. 7 references