Terms Used In Missouri Laws 630.161

  • Department: the department of mental health of the state of Missouri. See Missouri Laws 630.005
  • person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Missouri Laws 1.020
  • Vulnerable person: any person in the custody, care, or control of the department that is receiving services from an operated, funded, licensed, or certified program. See Missouri Laws 630.005

The department of mental health shall investigate incidents and reports of vulnerable person abuse using the procedures established in sections 630.163 to 630.167 and, upon substantiation of the report of vulnerable person abuse, shall promptly report the incident to the appropriate law enforcement agency and prosecutor. If the department is unable to substantiate whether abuse occurred due to the failure of the operator or any of the operator’s agents or employees to cooperate with the investigation, the incident shall be promptly reported to appropriate law enforcement agencies.