Consecuencias por no reportar abuso infantil en Pensilvania

Explicación Simple

Si alguien sabe que un niño está siendo maltratado pero no lo dice, puede tener problemas serios. Dependiendo de lo que sepa, puede ser un delito grave o menos grave.

Es como cuando ves que un amigo está en peligro en el agua pero decides no ayudar. Si no actúas, puedes meterte en problemas porque sabías que necesitaba ayuda.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que María, una maestra, escucha rumores sobre que un estudiante está siendo maltratado en casa. Si no reporta esto a las autoridades, puede enfrentar cargos serios, especialmente si se entera de que el abuso es grave.

Penalidades

No reportar abuso infantil puede resultar en delitos menores o graves, dependiendo de la situación.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

23 Pa.C.S. 6319 - Penalties (a) Failure to report or refer.-- (1) A person or official required by this chapter to report a case of suspected child abuse or to make a referral to the appropriate authorities commits an offense if the person or official willfully fails to do so. (2) An offense under this section is a felony of the third degree if: (i) the person or official willfully fails to report; (ii) the child abuse constitutes a felony of the first degree or higher; and (iii) the person or official has direct knowledge of the nature of the abuse. (3) An offense not otherwise specified in paragraph (2) is a misdemeanor of the second degree. (4) A report of suspected child abuse to law enforcement or the appropriate county agency by a mandated reporter, made in lieu of a report to the department, shall not constitute an offense under this subsection, provided that the report was made in a good faith effort to comply with the requirements of this chapter. (b) Continuing course of action.--If a person's willful failure under subsection (a) continues while the person knows or has reasonable cause to believe the child is actively being subjected to child abuse, the person commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, except that if the child abuse constitutes a felony of the first degree or higher, the person commits a felony of the third degree. (c) Multiple offenses.--A person who commits a second or subsequent offense under subsection (a) commits a felony of the third degree, except that if the child abuse constitutes a felony of the first degree or higher, the penalty for the second or subsequent offenses is a felony of the second degree.