Any adult who looks after a kid has the legal obligation to keep that child safe from harm. They may be prosecuted with child endangerment if they fail to protect the child. These can be complicated laws that are decided on the basis of one person’s opinion over another’s. Continue reading to learn more about these complicated aspects. For a free legal consultation if you have been accused of this or similar crime against a child, call Chambers Law Firm at 714-760-4088.
Child Endangerment is defined as a situation in which a child is put in risk
One of the most problematic parts of being charged with child endangerment is that it is a wide charge that can result in accusations and convictions for a variety of activities. Driving a car with a child in it while under the influence of alcohol, or having a child assist with drug preparation are two situations that most rational people would agree harm a child.
However, it’s possible that a person gets charged with child endangerment just for leaving a kid home alone when the child is mature enough, but the court disagrees.
Injury, both potential and actual
The present regulations are intended to penalize activity that has the potential to damage a child — it is not necessary that the kid has been injured. Kid endangerment is defined as putting a child in a situation that jeopardizes their life, morality, emotional well-being, health, or welfare. Of course, if the kid was wounded, it can be charged, but this is not a necessity for the charge.
The intent isn’t important
The prosecution does not have to establish that you meant to harm the kid in order to convict you of child endangerment. The “reasonable person” criteria is applied by the courts. Even if you didn’t know it was harmful or didn’t believe it was, you can be convicted of child endangerment if you put a kid in a condition that the courts judge a reasonable person would understand was dangerous.
It’s not enough to make a mistake to be charged with child endangerment
You must have done more than make a mistake or act poorly to be legally guilty of child endangerment. You must be able to demonstrate that you put a kid in a situation where he or she was more than likely to be hurt or exposed to harm. It is not always child endangerment if a parent accidentally leaves their child in a car with the doors closed.
If you have been charged with or suspected of child endangerment, contact Chambers Law Firm for a free legal consultation at 714-760-4088. We’ll be happy to assist you in understanding your options.
