Penalties for Failure to Report and False Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect - Iowa

Failure to Report

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 232.75(1)-(2)

Any person, official, agency, or institution required to report a suspected case of child abuse who knowingly and willfully fails to do so is guilty of a simple misdemeanor.

Any person, official, agency, or institution required by § 232.69 to report a suspected case of child abuse who knowingly fails to do so, or who knowingly interferes with the making of such a report in violation of § 232.70, is civilly liable for the damages proximately caused by such failure or interference.

False Reporting

Citation: Ann. Stat. §§ 232.75(3); 232.71B

A person who reports or causes to be reported to the Department of Human Services false information regarding an alleged act of child abuse, knowing that the information is false or that the act did not occur, commits a simple misdemeanor.

If the department receives more than three reports that identify the same child as a victim of child abuse or the same person as the alleged abuser of a child, or which were made by the same person, and the department determined the reports to be entirely false or without merit, the department shall provide information concerning the reports to the county attorney for consideration of criminal charges under § 232.75(3).