Is It a Crime Not to Report Child Abuse and Neglect in Oklahoma?

I've actually got the statute pulled up here, it is a Title 10A Section 1-2-101, subsection B, and what it provides is that every person having reason to believe that a child under the age of 18 years is a victim of abuse or neglect shall report the matter immediately to the Department of Human Services. Previously, there were certain people that had that duty, maybe based on their role as perhaps a teacher or healthcare provider. It was expanded to include anybody in the state of Oklahoma who has that obligation. Okay, so what if you don't do that? Well, it is a crime, you can go to jail for. It provides that any person who knowingly and willfully fails to promptly report suspected child abuse and neglect, or who interferes with the prompt reporting of suspected child abuse or neglect may be reported to local law enforcement for criminal investigation, and upon conviction shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. So, for failure to do that, it is a misdemeanor crime with the potential of up to a year in prison, and I believe it's up to a thousand dollars fine and/or both of those. However, if the person has prolonged knowledge of ongoing child abuse for a period of six months or more, then it's not a misdemeanor, it is a felony where instead of going to the county jail, perhaps you could go to the penitentiary for this. Need An Attorney? Give us a call at 918-879-1681 or submit a legal question at www.wirthlawoffice.com/ Want The Transcript? www.wirthlawoffice.com/tulsa-attorney-blog/2022/11… Join The Group! Have an Oklahoma legal question? There's a Facebook Group for that. Join me and the discussion by clicking the link and hitting "Join:" www.facebook.com/groups/oklahoma.legal.questions/