Charges
Caregiver Neglect Laws
Emotional/Psychological Laws
Financial Exploitation Laws
Physical Abuse Laws
Statutes
Endangering the Welfare of an Incompetent Person.
(1) A person commits the offense of endangering the welfare of an incompetent person if he knowingly acts in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical or mental welfare of a person who is unable to care for himself because of physical or mental disease, disorder, or defect. (2) Endagering the welfare of an incompetent person is a misdemeanor. [L 1972, c 9, pt of §1]
State Mandated Reporting
Hawaii
Who has to report?
Any licensed or registered professional of the healing arts and any health-related occupation who examines, treats, or provides other professional or specialized services to a vulnerable adult, including physicians, physicians in training, psychologists, dentists, nurses, osteopathic physicians and surgeons, optometrists, chiropractors, podiatrists, pharmacists, and other health-related professionals; employees or officers of any public or private agency or institution providing social, medical, hospital, or mental health services, including financial assistance; employees or officers of any law enforcement agency, including the courts, police departments, correctional institutions, and parole or probation offices; employees or officers of any adult residential care home, adult day care center, or similar institution; medical examiners or coroners; and licensed social workers and non-licensed persons employed in a social worker position.
When to report?
Any person required to report under the statute that, in the performance of their professional or official duties, knows or has reason to believe that a vulnerable adult has incurred abuse or is in danger of abuse if immediate action is not taken.
How to report?
An initial oral report shall be made promptly to the Department of Human Services followed as soon as possible by a written report; provided that if a police department is the initiating agency, a written report shall not be required unless the police department declines to take further action and the Department of Human Services informs the police department that it intends to investigate the oral report of abuse.
Hawaii Adult Abuse Reporting Hotline:
Maui, Molokai & Lanai: 808-243-5151
Kauai: 808-241-3432
Oahu: 808-832-5115
East Hawaii: 808-933-8820
