Child Welfare Worker Protections

Stronger protections for child welfare workers

Beginning May 7, 2025, Utah law protects child welfare workers and their families through separate assault and threat offenses. Covered workers are employees of the Division of Child and Family Services. Covered relatives include spouses, surviving spouses, parents, grandparents, siblings, children, and other relatives within the second degree by blood or marriage. Both offenses cover acts against workers doing their jobs, or against workers or relatives to obstruct, intimidate, interfere with, or retaliate for those duties. Assault or attempted assault is a class A misdemeanor when the attacker knows the victim is a worker or covered relative. It becomes a third-degree felony when the attacker intentionally or knowingly causes substantial bodily injury. This assault rule excludes minors in custody of, or receiving services from, a division of Utah’s Department of Health and Human Services. Knowingly or intentionally making a covered threat is a separate class A misdemeanor. Covered threats involve sexual offenses, bodily injury, death, or substantial property damage. The person must know, or reasonably should know, that the target is a worker or covered relative. The threat must cause a reasonable person to fear harm or suffer emotional distress. The person must know, or reasonably should know, that the threat would cause that reaction. Threats can be direct, indirect, express, or implied, and need not be carried out. Courts must order repayment of response-related expenses or losses unless they explain on the record why repayment is inappropriate. Separate juvenile restitution rules apply to minors found responsible. A person can be punished for both the threat and the underlying crime.