Immunity for Persons Who Report Child Abuse and Neglect - Massachusetts

Immunity for Making Reports

Citation: Gen. Laws Ch. 119, § 51A(g)

No person shall be liable in any civil or criminal action for filing a report under this section or contacting local law enforcement authorities or the child advocate if the report or contact was made in good faith and was not frivolous.

Additional Provisions of Immunity

Citation: Gen. Laws Ch. 119, § 51A(g)

No person shall be liable in any civil or criminal action for providing information or assistance, including a diagnosis, to the Department of Children and Families regarding a report under this section or for cooperating with or testifying in any proceeding involving child abuse or neglect if the information, assistance, cooperation, or testimony was provided in good faith and was not frivolous.

Limitations to Immunity

Citation: Gen. Laws Ch. 119, § 51A(g)

Any person filing a report, providing information or assistance, cooperating, or testifying under this section may be liable in a civil or criminal action if the department or a district attorney determines that the person may have perpetrated or inflicted the abuse or caused the neglect.