Michigan Child Abuse Laws

First degree child abuse: knowingly or intentionally causing serious physical or mental harm.

Second degree child abuse:

• Neglecting a child or acting in a reckless manner that results in serious physical or mental harm;
• Knowingly or intentionally committing an act that's likely to to cause serious physical or mental harm, regardless of whether harm actually results.
• Knowingly or intentionally committing an act that's cruel, regardless of whether harm actually results.

Third degree child abuse:

• Knowingly or intentionally causing physical harm; or
• Knowingly or intentionally acting in a manner that poses an unreasonable risk of harm, which results in physical harm.

Fourth degree child abuse:

• Neglecting a child or acting in a reckless manner that causes physical harm; or
• Knowingly or intentionally committing an act that poses an unreasonable risk of harm, regardless of whether physical harm results.

First degree child abuse is a felony punishable by a prison term up to and including life.

Second degree child abuse is a felony punishable by not more than 10 years in prison for the first offense, and not more than 20 years in prison for subsequent offenses.

Third degree child abuse is felony punishable by not more than 2 years in prison.

Fourth degree child abuse is a misdemeanor punishable by not more than 1 year in prison.

Failure to Report by Mandatory Reporter:

• Civilly liable for proximately caused damages.
• Guilty of misdemeanor punishable by 93 days in jail and/or fine of not more than $100.

Intentionally Making a False Report:

• If abuse would constitute misdemeanor or wouldn't constitute a crime if the report were true: it's a misdemeanor punishable by not more than 93 days in jail and/or a fine of not more than $100.
• If abuse would constitute felony if the report were true: it's a felony punishable by either the penalty of the child abuse or not more than 4 years in prison and/or a fine of not more than $2,000 (whichever is the lesser penalty).