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

Failure to Report

Citation: Comp. Laws § 722.633(1), (2)

A mandatory reporter who fails to report as required is civilly liable for the damages proximately caused by the failure.

A mandatory reporter who knowingly fails to report as required is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by one or both of the following:

• Imprisonment for not more than 93 days
• A fine of not more than $500

False Reporting

Citation: Comp. Laws § 722.633(5)

Any person who intentionally makes a false report of child abuse or neglect knowing that the report is false is guilty of a crime as follows:

• If the child abuse or neglect would not constitute a crime but would constitute a misdemeanor if the report were true, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than 93 days or a fine of not more than $100, or both.
• If the child abuse or neglect reported would constitute a felony if the report were true, the person is guilty of a felony punishable by the lesser of the following:
  • The penalty for the child abuse or neglect falsely reported
  • Imprisonment for not more than 4 years or a fine of not more than $2,000, or both