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West Virginia Child Abuse Laws
More Information on Child Abuse Laws
| Code Section | 49-6A-1, et seq., 49-1-3 |
| What Constitutes Abuse | Physical, mental, or emotional injury, sexual abuse/exploitation, negligent treatment, sale or attempted sale of child; any circumstances which harm or threaten the health and welfare of the child |
| Mandatory Reporting Required By | Medical, dental, or mental health professional, religious healer, Christian Science practitioner, school teacher/personnel, social services worker, child care worker, EMT, peace or law enforcement official, circuit court judge, family law master or magistrate, clergy |
| Basis of Report of Abuse/neglect | Reasonable cause to suspect that a child is abused or neglected or observes a child subjected to conditions likely to result in abuse or neglect |
| To Whom Reported | State Department of Human Services |
| Penalty for Failure to Report or False Reporting | Misdemeanor, up to 10 days in county jail and/or fine of $100 |
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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