Missouri Child Abuse Laws

By Natalie Moritz | Legally reviewed by FindLaw Staff | Last reviewed February 26, 2025

Missouri child abuse laws define abuse as the infliction of physical, sexual, or mental injury on a child by an adult, and neglect as the failure to provide necessary care. These crimes are felonies and carry severe penalties, including prison time. Various professionals are mandated reporters who must report suspected abuse to the Missouri Department of Social Services.

Child abuse is a serious crime in all 50 states, sometimes charged as child endangerment and/or assault and battery. Broadly defined as any type of cruelty visited upon a child, child abuse includes physical battery, mental or emotional abuse, neglect, exploitation, and sexual abuse. Most states, including Missouri, define the crime as an act or failure to act that:

Results in imminent risk or serious harm to a child's health and welfare due to physical, emotional, or sexual abuse;
Affects a child (under the age of 18 in Missouri);
By a parent or caregiver who is responsible for the child's welfare.

Definitions of Child Abuse in Missouri

Missouri law defines abuse as "the infliction of physical, sexual, or mental injury against a child by any person eighteen years of age of older." The state defines neglect as "the failure to provide, by those responsible for the care, custody, and control of a child under the age of eighteen years, the care reasonable and necessary to maintain the physical and mental health of the child."

Child Abuse Penalties in Missouri

Missouri child abuse laws charge the crime as a felony with no chance of probation or parole until at least one year of prison time has been served. If a child dies as a result of injuries sustained at the hands of an abuser, the defendant may face life in prison. Corporal punishment ("including spanking administered in a reasonable manner) is not considered child abuse.

Mandated Reporting of Child Abuse in Missouri

In Missouri, adults in certain professions are required to report any signs or knowledge of child abuse. These mandatory reporters include:

Physicians
Nurses
Social workers
Teachers and childcare workers
Police officers and law enforcement officials
Other authority figures

To report an instance (or suspected instance) of child abuse or neglect, contact the Missouri Department of Social Services (DSS) at 1-800-392-3738. Mandated reporters are required by state law to identify themselves when making a report.

Chart of Missouri Child Abuse Laws

The following chart highlights the basics of Missouri child abuse laws. See FindLaw's Crimes Against Children and Child Abuse sections to learn more.

Code Section	568.060, et seq.
What Constitutes Abuse	Any physical injury, sexual abuse, emotional abuse inflicted on child other than by accidental means by caregiver (spanking in a reasonable manner not included).
Charges and Sentences	Class C felony - up to 7 years in prison (but a minimum of one year); if abuse results in serious emotional or physical injury, Class B felony - between 5 and 15 years in prison; if abuse results in death of the child, Class A felony - 10 years to life in prison.
Mandatory Reporting Required By	Physician, medical examiner, dentist, chiropractor, coroner, optometrist, nurse, hospital or clinic personnel, any other health practitioner, psychologist, social worker, mental health professional, day care center worker, juvenile officer, probation or parole officer, teacher, school official, law enforcement officer, minister
Basis of Report of Abuse/neglect	Reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been or may be subjected to abuse or neglect or observes such conditions or circumstances that would reasonably result in abuse or neglect
To Whom Reported	Missouri Division of Family Services
Penalty for Failure to Report or False Reporting	Class A misdemeanor

Note: State laws are constantly changing—contact a Missouri criminal defense attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.