FindLaw | Find a Lawyer. Find Answers.
Are you a legal Professional?
My current location:
,
| Change location
Arkansas Child Abuse Laws
More Information on Child Abuse Laws
| Code Section | 12-12-501, et seq. |
| What Constitutes Abuse | Specific incidents listed in 12-12-503 include abandonment, extreme and repeated cruelty; intentional, negligent, nonjustifiable conduct constituting physical, psychological, or sexual abuse; conduct creating threat of death or permanent impairment; intentionally and without justification disciplining a child by striking on the face or with a closed fist or shaking a child |
| Mandatory Reporting Required By | Any person; physician, dentist, nurse medical personnel, teacher, school counselor, social or family worker, day care center worker, foster care worker, mental health professional, peace officer, law enforcement official, prosecuting attorney or judge, domestic abuse advocate, clergyman |
| Basis of Report of Abuse/neglect | Reasonable cause to suspect maltreatment or observance of conditions or circumstances which would reasonably result in maltreatment |
| To Whom Reported | Department of Human Services |
| Penalty for Failure to Report or False Reporting | Class C misdemeanor; willful failure to report: civilly liable for all damages proximately caused by that failure. Class A misdemeanor: False notification |
Note: State laws are constantly changing -- contact an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
Research the Law:
- Official State Codes - Links to the official online statutes (laws) in all 50 states and DC.
Related Resources for Child Abuse Laws: