Haw. Rev. Stat. § 588-2

Current through the 2024 Legislative Session

Section 588-2 - [Effective 7/1/2025] Definitions of child abuse

For purposes of this chapter:

"Child sexual abuse" means any of the offenses described under chapter 707, part V, when committed against a person under the age of eighteen years or that damage or injure a child's physical or psychological health or welfare, where the child has been the victim of sexual contact or conduct, including sexual assault; sodomy; molestation; sexual fondling; incest; prostitution; obscene or pornographic photographing, filming, or depiction; or other similar forms of sexual exploitation, including but not limited to acts that constitute an offense pursuant to section 712-1202(1)(b).

"Serious physical child abuse" means any of the offenses that damage or injure a child's physical or psychological health or welfare, where the child exhibits evidence of injury, including but not limited to:

(1) Substantial or multiple skin bruising;

(2) Substantial external or internal bleeding;

(3) Burn or burns;

(4) Malnutrition;

(5) Failure to thrive;

(6) Soft tissue swelling;

(7) Extreme pain;

(8) Extreme mental distress;

(9) Gross degradation;

(10) Poisoning;

(11) Fracture of any bone;

(12) Subdural hematoma; or

(13) Death; and the injury is not justifiably explained, the history given concerning the condition or death is not consistent with the degree or type of the condition or death, or there is evidence that the condition or death may not be the result of an accident; when the offense rises to the degree of a felony as defined in section 701-107.

HRS § 588-2

Amended by L 2024, c 144,§ 6, eff. 7/1/2025.

Amended by L 2011, c 43, § 19, eff. 5/4/2011.

L 1986, c 169, pt of §1; am L 2001, c 219, §4 .

This section is set out more than once due to postponed, multiple, or conflicting amendments.