Disciplining A Child
NRS 432B.150 — excessive corporal punishment may be abuse or neglect, measured by the injury it causes
Excessive, and an injury. Nevada's child welfare law says that excessive corporal punishment may result in physical or mental injury constituting abuse or neglect of a child. It does not define a permitted amount of force.
Abuse or neglect means physical or mental injury of a nonaccidental nature, sexual abuse or exploitation, or negligent treatment or maltreatment, caused or allowed by a person responsible for the child's welfare, where the child's health or welfare is harmed or threatened with harm. Allowing it means doing nothing to stop it while knowing or having reason to know of it.
- A sprain or dislocation, or damage to cartilage.
- A fracture of a bone or the skull.
- An intracranial hemorrhage or injury to another internal organ.
- A burn or scalding, or a cut, laceration, puncture or bite.
- Permanent or temporary disfigurement, or loss or impairment of a part or organ of the body.
Physical injury includes those, without being limited to them.
A parent's good faith choice of recognized nonmedical treatment, or seeking a child's admission to a mental health facility, is not on that account abuse or neglect. The criminal offense of child abuse and the agency's investigation run under other sections not reproduced here. Whether particular discipline crossed the line is a question for a court and a licensed Nevada attorney.
Sources for this section (3)
- NRS 432B.150 — Excessive corporal punishment may constitute abuse or neglect
- NRS 432B.020 — “Abuse or neglect of a child” defined
- NRS 432B.090 — “Physical injury” defined
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Nevada attorney.