Abuse of an elderly person, a person with disability, or a vulnerable person
This law makes it a crime to abuse elderly people, people with disabilities, or vulnerable people. Someone breaks this law if they repeatedly do things that cause serious emotional pain to such a person, if they on purpose fail to give them needed care or supplies, or if they act (or fail to act) in a way that puts that person's life or health at serious risk. This crime is a Class A misdemeanor. The law also says a person is not considered abused just because they choose to use prayer instead of medical treatment for their own health, as long as that is their own choice.
Classifications stated in the statute. Actual outcomes vary.
565.184. of an elderly person, a person with , or a — . — 1. A person commits the of abuse of an elderly person, a person with a disability, or a vulnerable person if he or she:
(1) Purposely engages in conduct involving more than one incident that causes to an elderly person, a person with a disability, or a vulnerable person. The shall be such as would cause a reasonable elderly person, person with a disability, or vulnerable person to suffer ; or
(2) Intentionally fails to provide care, goods or services to an elderly person, a person with a disability, or a vulnerable person. The result of the conduct shall be such as would cause a reasonable elderly person, person with a disability, or vulnerable person to suffer physical or emotional distress; or
(3) acts or knowingly fails to act in a manner which results in a substantial risk to the life, body or health of an elderly person, a person with a disability, or a vulnerable person.
2. The offense of abuse of an elderly person, a person with a disability, or a vulnerable person is a . Nothing in this section shall be to mean that an elderly person, a person with a disability, or a vulnerable person is abused solely because such person chooses to rely on spiritual means through prayer, medical care, for his or her health care, as evidence by such person's explicit , , or practice.
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Source & history notes
(L. 1992 S.B. 573 & 634 § 3, A.L. 2007 S.B. 3, A.L. 2014 S.B. 491) Effective 1-01-17
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