Nevada

It is the policy of this State to provide for the cooperation of law enforcement officials, courts of competent jurisdiction and all appropriate state agencies providing human services in identifying the abuse, neglect, exploitation, isolation and abandonment of older persons and vulnerable persons through the complete reporting of abuse, neglect, exploitation, isolation and abandonment of older persons and vulnerable persons.

(Added to NRS by 1981, 1334; A 1997, 1348; 2005, 1107; 2015, 804)

As used in NRS 200.5091 to 200.50995, inclusive, unless the context otherwise requires:

1.  “Abandonment” means:

(a) Desertion of an older person or a vulnerable person in an unsafe manner by a caretaker or other person with a legal duty of care; or

(b) Withdrawal of necessary assistance owed to an older person or a vulnerable person by a caretaker or other person with an obligation to provide services to the older person or vulnerable person.

2.  “Abuse” means willful:

(a) Infliction of pain or injury on an older person or a vulnerable person;

(b) Deprivation of food, shelter, clothing or services which are necessary to maintain the physical or mental health of an older person or a vulnerable person;

(c) Infliction of psychological or emotional anguish, pain or distress on an older person or a vulnerable person through any act, including, without limitation:

(1) Threatening, controlling or socially isolating the older person or vulnerable person;

(2) Disregarding the needs of the older person or vulnerable person; or

(3) Harming, damaging or destroying any property of the older person or vulnerable person, including, without limitation, pets;

(d) Nonconsensual sexual contact with an older person or a vulnerable person, including, without limitation:

(1) An act that the older person or vulnerable person is unable to understand or to which the older person or vulnerable person is unable to communicate his or her objection; or

(2) Intentional touching, either directly or through the clothing, of the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh or buttocks of the older person or vulnerable person; or

(e) Permitting any of the acts described in paragraphs (a) to (d), inclusive, to be committed against an older person or a vulnerable person.

3.  “Exploitation” means any act taken by a person who has the trust and confidence of an older person or a vulnerable person or any use of the power of attorney or guardianship of an older person or a vulnerable person to:

(a) Obtain control, through deception, intimidation or undue influence, over the older person’s or vulnerable person’s money, assets or property with the intention of permanently depriving the older person or vulnerable person of the ownership, use, benefit or possession of his or her money, assets or property; or

(b) Convert money, assets or property of the older person or vulnerable person with the intention of permanently depriving the older person or vulnerable person of the ownership, use, benefit or possession of his or her money, assets or property.

Ê As used in this subsection, “undue influence” means the improper use of power or trust in a way that deprives a person of his or her free will and substitutes the objectives of another person. The term does not include the normal influence that one member of a family has over another.

4.  “Isolation” means preventing an older person or a vulnerable person from having contact with another person by:

(a) Intentionally preventing the older person or vulnerable person from receiving visitors, mail or telephone calls, including, without limitation, communicating to a person who comes to visit the older person or vulnerable person or a person who telephones the older person or vulnerable person that the older person or vulnerable person is not present or does not want to meet with or talk to the visitor or caller knowing that the statement is false, contrary to the express wishes of the older person or vulnerable person and intended to prevent the older person or vulnerable person from having contact with the visitor;

(b) Physically restraining the older person or vulnerable person to prevent the older person or vulnerable person from meeting with a person who comes to visit the older person or vulnerable person; or

(c) Permitting any of the acts described in paragraphs (a) and (b) to be committed against an older person or a vulnerable person.

Ê The term does not include an act intended to protect the property or physical or mental welfare of the older person or vulnerable person or an act performed pursuant to the instructions of a physician of the older person or vulnerable person.

5.  “Neglect” means the failure of a person or a manager of a facility who has assumed legal responsibility or a contractual obligation for caring for an older person or a vulnerable person or who has voluntarily assumed responsibility for his or her care to provide food, shelter, clothing or services which are necessary to maintain the physical or mental health of the older person or vulnerable person.

6.  “Older person” means a person who is 60 years of age or older.

7.  “Protective services” means services the purpose of which is to prevent and remedy the abuse, neglect, exploitation, isolation and abandonment of older persons or vulnerable persons. The services may include:

(a) The investigation, evaluation, counseling, arrangement and referral for other services and assistance; and

(b) Services provided to an older person or a vulnerable person who is unable to provide for his or her own needs.

8.  “Vulnerable person” means a person 18 years of age or older who:

(a) Suffers from a condition of physical or mental incapacitation because of a developmental disability, organic brain damage or mental illness; or

(b) Has one or more physical or mental limitations that restrict the ability of the person to perform the normal activities of daily living.

(Added to NRS by 1981, 1334; A 1983, 1359, 1652; 1995, 2250; 1997, 1348; 1999, 3517; 2003, 491; 2005, 1108; 2015, 804; 2019, 3484)

1.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 6, any person who abuses an older person or a vulnerable person is guilty:

(a) For the first offense, of either of the following, as determined by the court:

(1) A category C felony and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130; or

(2) A gross misdemeanor and shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 364 days, or by a fine of not more than $2,000, or by both fine and imprisonment; or

(b) For the second and all subsequent offenses or if the person has been previously convicted of violating a law of any other jurisdiction that prohibits the same or similar conduct, of a category B felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for a minimum term of not less than 2 years and a maximum term of not more than 6 years,

Ê unless a more severe penalty is prescribed by law for the act or omission which brings about the abuse.

2.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 7, any person who has assumed responsibility, legally, voluntarily or pursuant to a contract, to care for an older person or a vulnerable person and who neglects the older person or vulnerable person, causing the older person or vulnerable person to suffer physical pain or mental suffering, permits or allows the older person or vulnerable person to suffer unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering or permits or allows the older person or vulnerable person to be placed in a situation where the older person or vulnerable person may suffer physical pain or mental suffering as the result of abuse or neglect is guilty:

(a) For the first offense, of either of the following, as determined by the court:

(1) A category C felony and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130; or

(2) A gross misdemeanor and shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 364 days, or by a fine of not more than $2,000, or by both fine and imprisonment; or

(b) For the second and all subsequent offenses, of a category B felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for a minimum term of not less than 2 years and a maximum term of not more than 6 years,

Ê unless a more severe penalty is prescribed by law for the act or omission which brings about the abuse or neglect.

3.  Except as otherwise provided in subsection 4, any person who exploits an older person or a vulnerable person shall be punished:

(a) For the first offense, if the value of any money, assets and property obtained or used:

(1) Is less than $650, of either of the following, as determined by the court:

(I) A category C felony as provided in NRS 193.130; or

(II) A gross misdemeanor by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 364 days, or by a fine of not more than $2,000, or by both fine and imprisonment;

(2) Is at least $650, but less than $5,000, for a category B felony by imprisonment in the state prison for a minimum term of not less than 2 years and a maximum term of not more than 10 years, or by a fine of not more than $10,000, or by both fine and imprisonment; or

(3) Is $5,000 or more, for a category B felony by imprisonment in the state prison for a minimum term of not less than 2 years and a maximum term of not more than 20 years, or by a fine of not more than $25,000, or by both fine and imprisonment; or

(b) For the second and all subsequent offenses, regardless of the value of any money, assets and property obtained or used, for a category B felony by imprisonment in the state prison for a minimum term of not less than 2 years and a maximum term of not more than 20 years, or by a fine of not more than $25,000, or by both fine and imprisonment,

Ê unless a more severe penalty is prescribed by law for the act which brought about the exploitation. The monetary value of all of the money, assets and property of the older person or vulnerable person which have been obtained or used, or both, may be combined for the purpose of imposing punishment for an offense charged pursuant to this subsection.

4.  If a person exploits an older person or a vulnerable person and the monetary value of any money, assets and property obtained cannot be determined, the person shall be punished:

(a) For the first offense, of either of the following, as determined by the court:

(1) A category C felony as provided in NRS 193.130; or

(2) A gross misdemeanor by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 364 days, or by a fine of not more than $2,000, or by both fine and imprisonment; or

(b) For the second and all subsequent offenses, for a category B felony by imprisonment in the state prison for a minimum term of not less than 2 years and a maximum term of not more than 20 years, or by a fine of not more than $25,000, or by both fine and imprisonment,

Ê unless a more severe penalty is prescribed by law for the act which brought about the exploitation.

5.  Any person who isolates or abandons an older person or a vulnerable person is guilty:

(a) For the first offense, of either of the following, as determined by the court:

(1) A category C felony and shall be punished as provided in NRS 193.130; or

(2) A gross misdemeanor and shall be punished by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than 364 days, or by a fine of not more than $2,000, or by both fine and imprisonment; or

(b) For the second and all subsequent offenses, of a category B felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for a minimum term of not less than 2 years and a maximum term of not more than 10 years, and may be further punished by a fine of not more than $5,000,

Ê unless a more severe penalty is prescribed by law for the act or omission which brings about the isolation or abandonment.

6.  A person who violates any provision of subsection 1, if substantial bodily or mental harm or death results to the older person or vulnerable person, is guilty of a category B felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for a minimum term of not less than 2 years and a maximum term of not more than 20 years, unless a more severe penalty is prescribed by law for the act or omission which brings about the abuse.

7.  A person who violates any provision of subsection 2, if substantial bodily or mental harm or death results to the older person or vulnerable person, shall be punished for a category B felony by imprisonment in the state prison for a minimum term of not less than 2 years and a maximum term of not more than 20 years, unless a more severe penalty is prescribed by law for the act or omission which brings about the abuse or neglect.

8.  In addition to any other penalty imposed against a person for a violation of any provision of NRS 200.5091 to 200.50995, inclusive, the court shall order the person to pay restitution.

9.  As used in this section:

(a) “Allow” means to take no action to prevent or stop the abuse or neglect of an older person or a vulnerable person if the person knows or has reason to know that the older person or vulnerable person is being abused or neglected.

(b) “Permit” means permission that a reasonable person would not grant and which amounts to a neglect of responsibility attending the care and custody of an older person or a vulnerable person.

(c) “Substantial mental harm” means an injury to the intellectual or psychological capacity or the emotional condition of an older person or a vulnerable person as evidenced by an observable and substantial impairment of the ability of the older person or vulnerable person to function within his or her normal range of performance or behavior.

(Added to NRS by 1981, 1336; A 1983, 1652, 1655; 1985, 249; 1995, 1194, 2253; 1997, 110, 1354; 2003, 2567; 2005, 1113; 2011, 159; 2013, 978; 2017, 2529, 2835)