Colorado Mandatory Reporting Laws

Colorado Caregivers are considered mandatory reporters.

Mandatory reporting helps to protect vulnerable individuals from neglect and abuse. If you are paid to care for a person with an intellectual or developmental disability (I/DD), you should be aware of Colorado’s new Mandatory Reporting laws for individuals with I/DD.

All individuals who are compensated for caring for an individual with I/DD are considered mandatory reporters. Mandatory reporters must report any and all allegations of abuse, exploitation and caretaker neglect to the local police department. It’s important to report any and all allegations, whether or not they are proven or just a hunch. Program Approved Service Agency (PASA) reporting policies and procedures may be followed only after the allegation is reported to Law Enforcement Dispatch or 911 in cases of emergency.

What do I need to know about reporting?

Willfully failing to report is a class 3 misdemeanor

  • $50-$750 fine
  • six months jail time

If you observe or have reasonable cause to believe that an at-risk elder or adult with I/DD has been, or is at imminent risk for mistreatment (abuse, caretaker neglect or exploitation), you must make a report to law enforcement not more than 24 hours after the observation or discovery.

Important Things to Remember

  • Mandatory reporters are not investigators
  • Self-neglect is NOT a crime, and it should not be reported to law enforcement
  • It’s okay to report if you just suspect something is wrong. As long as you make the report in good faith, you are immune from any criminal charges or a civil lawsuit for damages.
  • Additionally, reporting does not make you immune if you are the perpetrator of the mistreatment.

How to Report to Law Enforcement

  • Unless it is an emergency, call your local law enforcement agency, NOT 911.
  • Have as much information as possible about the at-risk elder or at-risk adult with I/DD, the alleged perpetrator and what is concerning you.

Law enforcement will need the following information, if available:

  1. Name, age, address and contact info of the at-risk person
  2. Name, age, address and contact info of the person reporting
  3. Name, age, address and contact info of caretaker, if any
  4. Name of the alleged perpetrator
  5. Nature and extent of the injury (physical/financial)
  6. Nature and extent of condition that required report to be made
  7. Any other pertinent information

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