Many lawyers believe that only doctors, psychologists, teachers, social workers and other professionals who work with children have a duty to report child abuse. In New Jersey, however, "[a]ny person who knowingly fails to report an act of sexual abuse against a child and who has reasonable cause to believe that an act of sexual abuse has been committed is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree." N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.14(b) (emphasis added). Attorneys representing clients and attorney mediators are not exempted from these criminal statutes. Fourth-degree crimes carry a penalty of up to 18 months in prison. N.J.S.A. 2C:43-6(a)4. For other forms of child abuse, the failure to report is a disorderly persons offense, N.J.S.A. 9:6-8.14(a), carrying up to six months in jail, N.J.S.A. 2C:43-8.