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Rhode Island Child Abuse Laws
More Information on Child Abuse Laws
| Code Section | 40-11-1, et seq. |
| What Constitutes Abuse | Child whose physical or mental health or welfare is harmed or threatened with harm including excessive corporal punishment, sexual abuse/exploitation, neglect, or abandonment |
| Mandatory Reporting Required By | Any person with reasonable cause |
| Basis of Report of Abuse/neglect | Reasonable cause to know or suspect that a child has been abused or neglected or been the victim of sexual abuse |
| To Whom Reported | Department for Children and their Families (department to establish statewide toll-free 24-hour/7-day-a-week telephone number for reporting) |
| Penalty for Failure to Report or False Reporting | Misdemeanor and up to $500 fine and/or imprisonment for up to 1 year for failure to report; misdemeanor and up to $1000 fine and/or imprisonment for up to 1 year for false report |
Note: State laws are constantly changing -- contact an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.
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- Official State Codes - Links to the official online statutes (laws) in all 50 states and DC.
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