Much is at stake for both the alleged perpetrator and the child victim; therefore, the system must maintain a balance to protect the rights of both. The underreporting of suspicions of child abuse and the overreporting of cases that are unfounded or cannot be substantiated are both problems. Measures to make reporting more accurate would include the clarification of reporting the laws, expansion and improvement of training for reporters, the development of agency policies regarding reporting, the modification of liability and immunity rules, improved efforts at screening reports, and feedback to reporters. Interviews of children require careful handling, with emphasis on appropriate interpretation of physical and behavioral signs of abuse and accurate recordkeeping. Photograph, table, checklists, and 58 references