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

Failure to Report

Citation: Children's Code Art. 609; Rev. Stat. § 14:403

Violation of the duties imposed upon a mandatory reporter subjects the offender to criminal prosecution.

Any person who is required to report the abuse or neglect of a child and knowingly and willfully fails to do so shall be fined no more than $500 or imprisoned for no more than 6 months, or both.

Any person who is required to report the sexual abuse of a child or the abuse or neglect of a child that results in the serious bodily injury, neurological impairment, or death of the child and knowingly and willfully fails to report shall be fined no more than $3,000 or imprisoned with or without hard labor for no more than 3 years, or both. The term 'serious bodily injury' includes, but is not limited to, injury involving protracted and obvious disfigurement or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty; substantial risk of death; or injury resulting from starvation or malnutrition.

Notwithstanding the provisions above, any person who is age 18 or older who witnesses the sexual abuse of a child and knowingly and willfully fails to report the sexual abuse to law enforcement or to the Department of Children and Family Services, as required by law, shall be fined no more than $10,000 or imprisoned with or without hard labor for no more than 5 years, or both.

False Reporting

Citation: Children's Code Art. 609; Rev. Stat. § 14:403(A)(3)

The filing of a report that is known to be false may subject the offender to criminal prosecution.

Any person who reports a child as abused or neglected or sexually abused to the department or to any law enforcement agency knowing that such information is false shall be fined no more than $500 or imprisoned for no more than 6 months, or both.