Reporting Child Abuse
Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-711 — every person who has reasonable cause reports, with immunity for a report made in good faith
Any other person. A physician, nurse, school employee, social worker, or any other person with reasonable cause to believe a child has been subjected to abuse or neglect reports it to law enforcement or the department's toll-free number.
The report may be made by telephone, giving the caller's name and address, and is followed by a written report. The department's number answers at any hour of the day or night.
A person making a report, or taking part in the investigation, is immune from civil and criminal liability, except for maliciously false statements.
Willfully failing to make a required report is a Class III misdemeanor.
Child abuse is knowingly, intentionally or negligently causing or permitting a child to be endangered, cruelly confined or punished, or deprived of necessary food, clothing, shelter or care.
Negligent abuse without serious injury is a Class I misdemeanor, and the classes climb from there. A particular situation is a question for a licensed Nebraska attorney.
Sources for this section (4)
- Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-711 — Child abuse or neglect; report
- Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-716 — Child abuse report; immunity
- Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-717 — Failure to report child abuse; penalty
- Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-707 — Child abuse
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Nebraska attorney.