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

Failure to Report

Citation: Ann. Code § 49-2-812

Any person, official, or institution required by this article to report a case involving a child known or suspected to be abused or neglected who knowingly fails to do so or knowingly prevents another person acting reasonably from doing so, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be confined in jail not more than 90 days or fined not more than $5,000, or both fined and confined.

Any person, official, or institution required by this article to report a case involving a child known or suspected to be sexually assaulted or sexually abused, or a student known or suspected to have been a victim of any nonconsensual sexual contact, sexual intercourse, or sexual intrusion on school premises, who knowingly fails to do so or knowingly prevents another person acting reasonably from doing so is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be confined in jail not more than 6 months or fined not more than $10,000, or both.

False Reporting

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed.