§ 609.2325 — Criminal Abuse
Plain-Language Summary
It is a crime for a caregiver to intentionally cause physical or mental pain to a vulnerable adult through harsh treatment, unreasonable confinement, or forced isolation. Penalties range from up to 364 days in jail for less serious cases to up to 15 years in prison if the abuse causes the victim's death.
609.2325 CRIMINAL ABUSE.
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Subdivision 1.Crimes.
A caregiver who, with intent to produce physical or mental pain or injury to a vulnerable adult, subjects a vulnerable adult to any aversive or deprivation procedure, unreasonable confinement, or involuntary seclusion, is guilty of criminal abuse and may be sentenced as provided in subdivision 3.
This subdivision does not apply to therapeutic conduct. §
Subd. 2.Exemptions.
For the purposes of this section, a vulnerable adult is not abused for the sole reason that:
(1) the vulnerable adult or a person with authority to make health care decisions for the vulnerable adult under sections 144.651, 144A.44, chapter 145B, 145C, or 252A, or sections 253B.03 or 524.5-101 to 524.5-502, refuses consent or withdraws consent, consistent with that authority and within the boundary of reasonable medical practice, to any therapeutic conduct, including any care, service, or procedure to diagnose, maintain, or treat the physical or mental condition of the vulnerable adult or, where permitted under law, to provide nutrition and hydration parenterally or through intubation; this paragraph does not enlarge or diminish rights otherwise held under law by:
(i) a vulnerable adult or a person acting on behalf of a vulnerable adult, including an involved family member, to consent to or refuse consent for therapeutic conduct; or
(ii) a caregiver to offer or provide or refuse to offer or provide therapeutic conduct; or
(2) the vulnerable adult, a person with authority to make health care decisions for the vulnerable adult, or a caregiver in good faith selects and depends upon spiritual means or prayer for treatment or care of disease or remedial care of the vulnerable adult in lieu of medical care, provided that this is consistent with the prior practice or belief of the vulnerable adult or with the expressed intentions of the vulnerable adult. §
Subd. 3.Penalties.
A person who violates subdivision 1 may be sentenced as follows:
(1) if the act results in the death of a vulnerable adult, imprisonment for not more than 15 years or payment of a fine of not more than $30,000, or both;
(2) if the act results in great bodily harm, imprisonment for not more than ten years or payment of a fine of not more than $20,000, or both;
(3) if the act results in substantial bodily harm or the risk of death, imprisonment for not more than five years or payment of a fine of not more than $10,000, or both; or
(4) in other cases, imprisonment for not more than 364 days or payment of a fine of not more than $3,000, or both.
History:
1995 c 229 art 2 s 3; 1996 c 408 art 10 s 11; 2004 c 146 art 3 s 43; 1Sp2021 c 11 art 4 s 4; 2023 c 52 art 6 s 16
History: History: 1995 c 229 art 2 s 3; 1996 c 408 art 10 s 11; 2004 c 146 art 3 s 43; 1Sp2021 c 11 art 4 s 4; 2023 c 52 art 6 s 16