Missouri Laws 630.155 – Mistreatment of patient — defined — penalty
1. A person commits the offense of patient, resident or client abuse or neglect against any person admitted on a voluntary or involuntary basis to any mental health facility or mental health program in which people may be civilly detained pursuant to chapter 632, or any patient, resident or client of any residential facility, day program or specialized service operated, funded or licensed by the department if he knowingly does any of the following:
(1) Beats, strikes or injures any person, patient, resident or client;
Attorney's Note
Under the Missouri Laws, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class E felony | up to 4 years | up to $10,000 |
| Class A misdemeanor | up to 1 year | up to $2,000 |
Terms Used In Missouri Laws 630.155
- Client: any person who is placed by the department in a facility or program licensed and funded by the department or who is a recipient of services from a regional center, as defined in section 633. See Missouri Laws 630.005
- Day program: a place conducted or maintained by any person who advertises or holds himself out as providing prevention, evaluation, treatment, habilitation or rehabilitation for persons affected by mental disorders, mental illness, intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities or alcohol or drug abuse for less than the full twenty-four hours comprising each daily period. See Missouri Laws 630.005
- Department: the department of mental health of the state of Missouri. See Missouri Laws 630.005
- following: when used by way of reference to any section of the statutes, mean the section next preceding or next following that in which the reference is made, unless some other section is expressly designated in the reference. See Missouri Laws 1.020
- Patient: an individual under observation, care, treatment or rehabilitation by any hospital or other mental health facility or mental health program pursuant to the provisions of chapter 632. 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
- Resident: a person receiving residential services from a facility, other than mental health facility, operated, funded or licensed by the department. See Missouri Laws 630.005
- Residential facility: any premises where residential prevention, evaluation, care, treatment, habilitation or rehabilitation is provided for persons affected by mental disorders, mental illness, intellectual disability, developmental disabilities or alcohol or drug abuse. See Missouri Laws 630.005
- Specialized service: an entity which provides prevention, evaluation, transportation, care, treatment, habilitation or rehabilitation services to persons affected by mental disorders, mental illness, intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities or alcohol or drug abuse. See Missouri Laws 630.005
(2) Mistreats or maltreats, handles or treats any such person, patient, resident or client in a brutal or inhuman manner;
(3) Uses any more force than is reasonably necessary for the proper control, treatment or management of such person, patient, resident or client;
(4) Fails to provide services which are reasonable and necessary to maintain the physical and mental health of any person, patient, resident or client when such failure presents either an imminent danger to the health, safety or welfare of the person, patient, resident or client, or a substantial probability that death or serious physical harm will result.
2. Patient, resident or client abuse or neglect is a class A misdemeanor unless committed under subdivision (2) or (4) of subsection 1 of this section in which case such abuse or neglect shall be a class E felony.