County of Marin Health and Human Services

Reporting Abuse and Neglect

Anyone who is A mandated reporter is someone who is required by law to report abuse.

“Any person who has assumed full or intermittent responsibility for care or custody of an elder or dependent adult, whether or not that person receives compensation, including administrators, supervisors, and any licensed staff of a public or private facility that provides care or services for elder or dependent adults, or any elder or dependent adult care custodian, health practitioner, clergy member, or employee of a count adult protective services agency or a local law enforcement agency is a mandated reporter.” Welfare & Institutions Code Section 15630(a)

  • Care custodians (e.g., attendants, day care staff, senior center staff)
  • Health care practitioners (e.g., doctors, dentists, nurses, therapists, and their office staff)
  • Law enforcement agency employees
  • Medical examiners
  • Paramedics and firefighters
  • Code enforcement agency employees
  • Animal control agency employees
  • Financial institutions employees
  • Clergy members
  • Adult/child protective services staff
  • All staff of Marin County Social Services having client contact

What Must Be Reported?

  • Physical abuse (including sexual abuse)
  • Neglect
  • Financial abuse
  • Abandonment
  • Isolation
  • Abduction
  • Self-neglect
  • (Mental suffering - reporting optional)

Mandated reporters are required to report when:

  • The victim reports abuse has occurred.
  • Abuse is observed by the mandated reporter.
  • Abuse is reasonably suspected (e.g., injury or condition.)

“Any mandated reporter who, in his or her professional capacity, or within the scope of his or her employment, has observed or has knowledge of an incident that reasonably appears to be physical abuse (including sexual abuse), abandonment, isolation, financial abuse, abduction, or neglect (including self-neglect), or is told by an elder or dependent adult that he or she has experienced behavior constituting physical abuse, abandonment, isolation, financial abuse, abduction, or neglect, or reasonably suspects that abuse shall report the known or suspected instance of abuse by telephone immediately or as soon as practically possible, and by written report sent within two (2) working days to the appropriate agency.” Welfare & Institutions Code 15630

Steps to report Dependent Adult or Elder Abuse to Adult Protective Services

(Call 911 for Life-Threatening Emergencies)

  1. Call APS to report dependent adult or elder abuse: ​(415) 473-2774 
  2. Complete State of California Abuse report forms:
  1. Mail the written report or FAX within 2 working days to:

Marin County Adult Protective Services
10 N. San Pedro Road
San Rafael, CA 94903

FAX: (415) 473-7042

To report dependent adult/elder abuse in a long term care facility such as a skilled nursing facility or residential care facility, call the Long Term Care Ombudsman (415) 473-7446.
 

Failure to report suspected abuse is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment/fine.

Confidentiality - A mandated reporter is required to give their name. The identity of all persons who report shall be confidential. Violation of statutory confidentiality is a misdemeanor. APS may reveal the names of reporting parties only to other investigative agencies as specified by law. No person required to report abuse will bear criminal liability for reporting. No supervisor or administrator may impede or prohibit reporting.