Zachary D. Kaufman | Wyoming Statutes Annotated §§ 14-3-201, -205, -207, -209.

Title 14 (Children), Chapter 3 (Protection), Article 2 (Sections 14-3-201 to 14-3-216) (Child Protective Services), Section 205 (Child abuse or neglect; persons required to report).

United States

Source: https://wyoleg.gov/NXT/gateway.dll?f=templates&fn=default.htm

14-3-201: Purpose

The purpose of W.S. 14-3-201 through 14-3-216 is to delineate the responsibilities of the state agency, other governmental agencies or officials, professionals and citizens to intervene on behalf of a child suspected of being abused or neglected, to protect the best interest of the child, to further offer protective services when necessary in order to prevent any harm to the child or any other children living in the home, to protect children from abuse or neglect which jeopardize their health or welfare, to stabilize the home environment, to preserve family life whenever possible and to provide permanency for the child in appropriate circumstances. The child’s health, safety and welfare shall be of paramount concern in implementing and enforcing this article.

14-3-205: Child abuse or neglect; persons required to report.

(a) Any person who knows or has reasonable cause to believe or suspect that a child has been abused or neglected or who observes any child being subjected to conditions or circumstances that would reasonably result in abuse or neglect, shall immediately report it to the child protective agency or local law enforcement agency or cause a report to be made. The fact a child, who is at least sixteen (16) years of age, is homeless as defined in W.S. 14-1-102(d) shall not, in and of itself, constitute a sufficient basis for reporting neglect. Female genital mutilation under W.S. 6-2-502(a)(v) when the victim is a minor shall be considered child abuse for mandatory reporting under this section.

(b) If a person reporting child abuse or neglect is a member of the staff of a medical or other public or private institution, school, facility or agency, he shall notify the person in charge or his designated agent as soon as possible, who is thereupon also responsible to make the report or cause the report to be made. Nothing in this subsection is intended to relieve individuals of their obligation to report on their own behalf unless a report has already been made or will be made.

(c) Any employer, public or private, who discharges, suspends, disciplines or penalizes an employee solely for making a report of neglect or abuse under W.S. 14-3-201 through 14-3-215 is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both.

(d) Any person who knowingly and intentionally makes a false report of child abuse or neglect, or who encourages or coerces another person to make a false report of child abuse or neglect, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), or both.

14-3-207: Abuse or neglect as suspected cause of death; coroner’s investigation.

Any person who knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has died as a result of child abuse or neglect shall report to the appropriate coroner. The coroner shall investigate the report and submit his findings in writing to the law enforcement agency, the appropriate district attorney and the local child protective agency.

14-3-209: Immunity from liability.

Any person, official, institution or agency participating in good faith in any act required or permitted by W.S. 14-3-201 through 14-3-215 is immune from any civil or criminal liability that might otherwise result by reason of the action. For the purpose of any civil or criminal proceeding, the good faith of any person, official or institution participating in any act permitted or required by W.S. 14-3-201 through 14-3-215 shall be presumed.

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Year of enactment

1978

Last Amended

2017