Until children are able to take care of themselves, it is the parents’ job to take care of their children. Every day parents are expected to perform tasks to make sure their child is fed, clothed and safe. With these everyday tasks, some parents do not act appropriately. Some parents have been found to be neglectful of their children. Due to various reasons, parents can be found neglecting their children. Some of these reasons can include the use and abuse of drugs or alcohol. It is possible that a parent can be unfit to maintain the role as guardian of their child. If a parent is unable to take care of their sufficiently or is neglectful, they can be charged with endangering the welfare of a child. With this charge, they may lose custody of their child. They can also face other penalties as well.
What penalties can a parent face?
When parents are charged with endangering the welfare of a child, this is taken as a serious charge. Depending on the level of severity of danger that the child was exposed to, the charges and penalties can fluctuate. Individuals may face a felony or misdemeanor charge depending on the circumstances.
Class A misdemeanors include endangering the welfare of a child, non-support of a child in the second degree, unlawfully dealing with a child in the first degree and misrepresentation by a child day care provider. A Class B misdemeanor is described as unlawfully dealing with a child in the second degree. Class E felonies include abandonment of a child and non-support of a child in the first degree.
What is compound sentencing?
If your charge of endangering the welfare of a child is combined with another illegal act, you may face even harsher penalties. You can be subject to more than one criminal charge. This can escalate your situation. For these circumstances, you should ensure that you have expert legal aid.
How can child endangerment be found?
Since children are under the supervision of their parents most of the time, it can hard to find signs of child endangerment. When another illegal act is committed in the process, it may be easier to find signs of child endangerment present surrounding the other illegal act that the individual may be charged with. Mandated reporters are individuals who legally have to report signs of child endangerment when they are aware of it. These individuals can be doctors, teachers and other authority figures that may have contact with a child.
If you are in need of experienced legal counsel for a criminal defense matter on Long Island or throughout New York State, please contact Grunwald & Seman, P.C. to schedule a consultation and we would be happy to assist you.
