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Mandated Reporting of Elder or Dependent Adult Abuse Procedures

Who should report elder and/or elder dependent abuse?

YOU! If you are an employee of RCOE you are a mandated reporter. When in doubt, report it!

Failure to report could result in a misdemeanor and is punishable by confinement in the county jail for a term not to exceed six months or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or both.

What is elder and/or elder dependent abuse?

If you reasonably suspect that an elder or dependent adult is or has experienced…

  • unexplained or unusual injuries
  • sexual assault, physical abuse, or exploitation
  • the willful cruelty and/or unjustifiable punishment, verbal, psychological, or emotional abuse
  • threats, corporal punishment involving injury or traumatic condition
  • general neglect, such as a lack of adequate food, reasonable hygiene, clothing, shelter, isolation, abandonment, self-neglect, and supervision
  • financial extortion, theft, misuse of funds, or fraud

*An elder is an adult 60 years of age or older. A dependent is an adult 18-59 years of age.

How to report abuse?

STEP 1:

Immediately contact your local law enforcement through their non-emergency line: Sheriff or Police Department Contacts by School District (PDF).

STEP 2:

Immediately report abuse to the Riverside County Department of Adult Protective Services Hotline 1-800-491-7123 (24-hour, 7 days-a-week, 365 days a year).

To prepare for making a report, be clear, provide names, addresses, and ages, if possible.

STEP 3:

Contact RCOE Personnel Services Department 1-951-826-6676 if the allegation of the abuse is against an employee, volunteer, etc. Personnel Services will be responsible for working with law enforcement and conducting an employee investigation.

STEP 4:

Within 36 hours, you are also required to submit a follow-up report using the online reporting portal. The law enforcement officer will provide a case number and the APS online portal will provide a separate case number. You must provide a copy of the APS report to the law enforcement officer contacted.  

What happens after I make a report?

Once a report is made law enforcement and Adult Protective Services will follow their protocols.

Mandated reporters are not liable either in civil damages or from criminal prosecution because of making a report, unless it can be proven that a false report was made, and that the reporter knew the report to be false when filed. The name of the reporting party is confidential.

Additional Resources and Services