California Welfare and Institutions Code 5004.5 – (a) Notwithstanding any other law, a legal guardian, …
(a) Notwithstanding any other law, a legal guardian, conservator, or other person who reasonably believes a person with a mental health disorder or developmental disability is the victim of a crime may file a report with an appropriate law enforcement agency. The report shall specify the nature of the alleged offense and any pertinent evidence. Notwithstanding any other law, the information in that report shall not be deemed confidential in any manner. No person shall incur any civil or criminal liability as a result of making a report authorized by this section unless it can be shown that a false report was made and the person knew or should have known that the report was false.
(b) Where the district attorney of the county in which the alleged offense occurred finds, based upon the evidence contained in the report and any other evidence obtained through regular investigatory procedures, that a reasonable probability exists that a crime or public offense has been committed and that the person with the mental health disorder or developmental disability is the victim, the district attorney may file a complaint verified on information and belief.
Terms Used In California Welfare and Institutions Code 5004.5
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- County: includes "city and county. See California Welfare and Institutions Code 14
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
(c) The filing of a report by a legal guardian, conservator, or any other person pursuant to this section shall not constitute evidence that a crime or public offense has been committed and shall not be considered in any manner by the trier of fact.
(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 144, Sec. 86. (AB 1847) Effective January 1, 2015.)