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California Child Abuse Laws
More Information on Child Abuse Laws
| Code Section | Penal Code §11164, et seq. |
| What Constitutes Abuse | Sexual abuse or exploitation as listed by incident in 11165.1; neglect; willful cruelty or unjustifiable punishment; any physical injury inflicted other than by accidental means |
| Mandatory Reporting Required By | Health practitioner, child visitation monitors, fire fighter, animal control officer, humane society officer, district attorney, school employees, film processors, clergy, social workers, day care workers, police department employees, administrators or employees of public or private youth organizations or day camps |
| Basis of Report of Abuse/neglect | Knows or reasonably suspects or observes child abuse |
| To Whom Reported | To a child protective agency (police or sheriff's department, county probation department, or country welfare department) |
| Penalty for Failure to Report or False Reporting | Misdemeanor; up to 6 months in jail and/or up to $1,000 |
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.
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