Elder Abuse Laws (Criminal)

Code Section Description Penalty
PENAL CODE § 187
(Murder)
  • - A human being was killed
  • - The killing was unlawful
  • - The killing was done with malice aforethought or occurred during the commission of a felony inherently dangerous to human life
  • - Death
  • - Life Without Possibility of Parole
  • - 25 Years to Life
PENAL CODE § 261
(Rape)
  • - Act of sexual intercourse (with person not spouse) under any of the following circumstances:
  • - Person is incapable, because of mental disorder or developmental or physical disability, of giving legal consent and this is known or reasonable should be known to person committing act
  • - Accomplished against person's will by means of force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury
  • - Person prevented from resisting by intoxicating or anesthetic substance
  • - Person unconscious of nature of the act and this is known to accused
  • State prison 3, 6 or 8 Years
PENAL CODE § 288(a); (b)(2);(c)(2)
(Lewd or Lascivious Acts)
  • - A person willfully and lewdly commits any lewd or lascivious act, with intent of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust, passions, or sexual desires of that person...
  • - Person is a caretaker and commits act upon dependent adult by use of force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury on the victim
  • - Person is a caretaker and commits act upon dependent adult is guilty of a public offense
  • Felony - state prison 3, 6 or 8 years and $10,000 fine; State prison 1, 2 or 3 years or 1 year county jail
PENAL CODE § 289
(Sexual Penetration)
  • - A person commits an act of sexual penetration
  • - Against victim's will by means of force, violence, duress, menace, or fear of immediate and unlawful bodily injury
  • - Victim is incapable, because of mental disorder or developmental or physical disability, of giving consent
  • - And this is known or reasonably should be known to person committing act
  • State prison 3, 6 or 8 years
PENAL CODE § 368(b)(1)(2)(3)
(Causes or permits infliction of physical pain or mental suffering on elder or dependent adult under circumstances or conditions likely to produce great bodily harm or death)
  • - A person, under circumstances or conditions likely to produce great bodily harm or death, willfully causes or permits an elder or dependent adult to suffer
  • - With knowledge that he or she is an elder or dependent adult
  • - Unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering
  • - One year county jail and $6,000 fine or state prison two, three, or four years
  • - If victim suffers great bodily injury - then additional state prison:
    • 3 years if victim under 70 years
    • 5 years if victim 70 years or older
  • - If defendant causes death of victim - then additional state prison:
    • 5 years if victim under 70 years
    • 7 years if victim 70 years or older
PENAL CODE § 368(c)
(Causes or permits infliction of physical pain or mental suffering on elder or dependent adult under circumstances or conditions not likely to produce great bodily harm or death)
  • - A person, under circumstances or conditions other than those likely to produce great bodily harm or death, willfully causes or permits an elder or dependent adult to suffer
  • - With knowledge that he or she is an elder or dependent adult
  • - Unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering
  • Misdemeanor
PENAL CODE § 368(d)
(Violates provision of law proscribing theft or embezzlement - not a caretaker)
  • - A person, not a caretaker violates provision of law proscribing theft or embezzlement with respect to property of an elder or dependent adult
  • - With knowledge that he or she is an elder or dependent adult
  • When value of property taken exceeds $400:
  • Misdemeanor or felony: One year county jail and $1,000 fine
  • When value of property taken does not exceed $400:
  • One year county jail and $1,000 fine
PENAL CODE § 368(e)
(Violates provision of law proscribing theft or embezzlement - caretaker)
  • - A caretaker violates provision of law proscribing theft or embezzlement with respect to property of an elder or dependent adult
  • When value of property taken exceeds $400:
  • Misdemeanor or felony: One year county jail and $1,000 fine
  • When value of property taken does not exceed $400:
  • One year county jail and $1,000 fine
PENAL CODE § 422
(Elements of Offense - Willfully threatens to commit a crime which will result in death or great bodily injury)
  • - A person willfully threatens to commit a crime which
  • - Will result in death or great bodily injury to another
  • - With specific intent that the statement ... is to be taken as a threat
  • - Causes person reasonably to be in sustained fear for his or her own safety or for his or her immediate family's safety
  • County jail not to exceed one year or state prison
HEALTH & SAFETY CODE § 1290 (Violations, Penalties Relating to Operation or Maintenance of Long-Term Healthcare Facilities
  • - Willfully or repeatedly violating chapter or rule or regulation adopted under chapter relating to operation or maintenance of long-term health care facility
  • - Misdemeanor - $2,500 fine and 180 days county jail
WELFARE & INSTITUTIONS CODE § 15630 (Mandated Reporters of Abuse)
  • - Defines mandated reporters
  • - Known or suspected abuse of elder or dependent adult:
  • - Physical
  • - Abandonment
  • - Isolation
  • - Financial
  • - Neglect
  • - Reporting requirements
  • - Failure to report - misdemeanor:
  • Six months county jail and $1,000 fine
  • - Failure to report - felony - where abuse results in death or great bodily injury:
  • One year county jail and $5,000 fine