Child Endangerment Laws by State (2026)
How each state handles child endangerment and the penalties, from each state's code.
| State | Child endangerment |
|---|---|
| Alabama | Endangering the welfare of a child — sending a child under 16 into dangerous work, or a parent or guardian failing to use reasonable care to keep a child under 18 from becoming dependent or delinquent — is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year and a $6,000 fine). Contributing to the delinquency, dependency or need of supervision of a child (including causing a child to skip required school) is also a Class A misdemeanor. It becomes a felony as child abuse: a responsible person who tortures, willfully abuses, cruelly beats or otherwise willfully maltreats a child under 18 commits a Class C felony (1 year and 1 day to 10 years). Aggravated child abuse (repeated abuse, abuse violating a court order, or causing serious physical injury) is a Class B felony, and a Class A felony when the child is under 6. Ala. Code 1975 §§ 13A-13-6, 12-15-111, 26-15-3, 26-15-3.1; Ala. Code 1975 §§ 13A-5-6, 13A-5-7, 13A-5-11, 13A-5-12 |
| Alaska | A parent, guardian or other person legally caring for a child under 16 commits first-degree endangering the welfare of a child by deserting the child where there is a substantial risk of injury, leaving the child with a registered or charged sex offender, or recklessly failing to give enough food or liquid so the child's health is impaired (class C felony, up to 5 years); leaving a child with someone known to have abused a child, who then injures or sexually abuses the child, is a class A misdemeanor to a class B felony depending on the harm, and driving a child while under the influence is a class A misdemeanor. Caring for a child under 10 while impaired with no sober person 12 or older present, or letting the child stay where illegal drugs are stored, is second-degree endangerment, a non-criminal violation. Contributing to the delinquency of a minor (an adult aiding or encouraging a child to break the law, be around drug activity, skip school or run away) is a class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year). AS 11.51.100, 11.51.110, 11.51.130; AS 12.55.125, 12.55.135, 12.55.035 |
| Arizona | A person with custody of a child under 16 who knowingly causes or allows the child's life to be endangered, health injured, or moral welfare harmed commits a class 1 misdemeanor (up to 6 months in jail and a $2,500 fine). Contributing to the delinquency or dependency of a child is also a class 1 misdemeanor. It becomes a felony as child abuse: under circumstances likely to cause death or serious physical injury, intentional or knowing abuse is a class 2 felony (sentenced under the dangerous-crimes-against-children law if the child is under 15), reckless abuse a class 3 felony, and criminally negligent abuse a class 4 felony; under other circumstances, the classes are 4, 5 and 6. A.R.S. §§ 13-3619, 13-3613, 13-3623; A.R.S. §§ 13-702(D), 13-707 |
| Arkansas | Endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree — a parent, guardian or supervising adult purposely creating a considerable likelihood of death or serious harm to a minor, or abandoning a child under 10 in such circumstances — is a Class D felony (up to 6 years). Second degree (knowingly creating a substantial risk of serious harm to a minor) is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year and $2,500), and third degree (doing so recklessly) is a Class B misdemeanor (up to 90 days and $1,000). Contributing to the delinquency of a minor — an adult knowingly aiding or encouraging a minor to break the law, run away, skip school or habitually disobey parents — is a Class A misdemeanor. Ark. Code §§ 5-27-205, 5-27-206, 5-27-207, 5-27-209; Ark. Code §§ 5-4-201, 5-4-401 |
| California | Willfully causing or permitting a child to suffer, inflicting unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering, or, as a caregiver, allowing a child to be injured or placed where the child's health is endangered, under circumstances likely to produce great bodily harm or death, is a 'wobbler' punishable by up to 1 year in county jail or 2, 4 or 6 years in state prison. The same conduct under other circumstances is a misdemeanor. Anyone granted probation must serve at least 48 months of probation and complete at least one year of a child abuser's treatment program, among other conditions. Contributing to the delinquency of a minor (acts or omissions that cause or encourage a child under 18 to become a dependent or ward of the juvenile court) is a misdemeanor punishable by up to $2,500 and/or 1 year in county jail, or up to 5 years' probation. Cal. Penal Code 273a(a)-(c); 272(a) |
| Colorado | Colorado's main offense is child abuse: causing an injury to a child's life or health, or permitting a child to be unreasonably placed in a situation that threatens the child's life or health. With no injury, it is a class 2 misdemeanor (up to 120 days and $750), but a class 5 felony under certain aggravating circumstances (for example, in connection with drug manufacturing). Knowing or reckless abuse causing injury is a class 1 misdemeanor; causing serious bodily injury is a class 3 felony (class 4 if criminally negligent); causing death is a class 2 felony (class 3 if criminally negligent). Contributing to the delinquency of a minor — inducing or encouraging a child under 18 to break the law — is a class 4 felony when the underlying crime is a felony covered by the victim-rights law and otherwise a class 1 misdemeanor (up to 364 days and $1,000). C.R.S. §§ 18-6-401(1), (7), 18-6-701; C.R.S. §§ 18-1.3-401, 18-1.3-501, 18-1.3-503 |
| Connecticut | Connecticut's child endangerment crime is called risk of injury to a child. Wilfully or unlawfully putting a child under 16 in a situation where the child's life or limb is endangered, health is likely to be injured or morals are likely to be impaired, or doing any act likely to impair the child's health or morals, is a Class C felony (1 to 10 years). Sexual contact with the intimate parts of a child under 16 under this law is a Class B felony (1 to 20 years), with five years that cannot be suspended if the child is under 13. Selling or buying custody of a child under 16 outside a lawful adoption is also a Class C felony. Leaving an infant 30 days old or younger with a designated hospital employee under the safe-haven law is not a crime under this section. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-21; Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53a-35a, 53a-36, 53a-41, 53a-42 |
| Delaware | Endangering the welfare of a child covers a parent, guardian or caretaker who acts in a way likely to harm a child's physical, mental or moral welfare or lets the child become neglected or abused, as well as knowingly contributing to the delinquency of a child under 18, helping a child run away, committing certain violent crimes in front of a child family member, driving under the influence with a child passenger, and drug crimes in a home where a child is present. It is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year), a Class G felony if the child suffers serious physical injury or becomes a victim of a sexual offense, and a Class E felony if the child dies. Making drugs available to a child is graded from a Class A misdemeanor up to a Class B felony (if the child dies). Knowingly letting a child stay where illegal drug, sex or gambling activity happens is unlawfully dealing with a child, a Class B misdemeanor. 11 Del. C. §§ 1102, 1106; 11 Del. C. §§ 4205, 4206 |
| District of Columbia | Cruelty to children in the first degree is intentionally, knowingly or recklessly torturing, beating or willfully mistreating a child under 18, or creating a grave risk of bodily injury, where bodily injury results; it carries up to 15 years. Second-degree cruelty (mistreatment or conduct creating a grave risk of injury, or exposing a child with intent to abandon) carries up to 10 years. An adult 18 or older who is at least 4 years older than a minor and encourages the minor to skip school, drink or use drugs, run away to commit crimes, violate a court order or commit a misdemeanor, or join a gang commits contributing to the delinquency of a minor: up to 6 months (up to 3 years for a repeat offense), up to 5 years if the minor is encouraged to commit a felony or someone is seriously injured, and up to 10 years if someone dies. D.C. Code §§ 22-1101, 22-811, 22-3571.01 |
| Florida | Florida's child endangerment crimes are child neglect and child abuse. A caregiver who willfully or by culpable negligence fails to provide a child with needed care, supervision, food, shelter or medical care commits neglect, a third-degree felony (up to 5 years), or a second-degree felony (up to 15 years) if it causes great bodily harm, permanent disability or disfigurement. Letting a child do independent, unsupervised activities is not neglect unless it is willful and wanton conduct that endangers the child. Child abuse without great bodily harm is a third-degree felony, and aggravated child abuse (aggravated battery, torture, malicious punishment or caging, or abuse causing great harm) is a first-degree felony. Contributing to the delinquency or dependency of a child is a first-degree misdemeanor (up to 1 year). Fla. Stat. §§ 827.03, 827.04; Fla. Stat. §§ 775.082, 775.083 |
| Georgia | Georgia's main child endangerment crime is cruelty to children. First degree (a caregiver willfully depriving a child under 18 of necessary sustenance, or anyone maliciously causing a child cruel or excessive physical or mental pain) carries 5 to 20 years. Second degree (causing such pain through criminal negligence) carries 1 to 10 years. Third degree (letting a child see or hear a forcible felony or family-violence battery) is a misdemeanor for a first or second conviction and a felony with 1 to 3 years for a third. Contributing to the delinquency, unruliness or deprivation of a minor is a misdemeanor for a first or second offense and a felony (1 to 3 years) for a third; directing a minor to commit a forcible felony or giving a minor a weapon to commit one is a felony with 1 to 10 years. O.C.G.A. §§ 16-5-70, 16-12-1 |
| Hawaii | Endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree (a person with care or custody of a minor who intentionally or knowingly allows someone to inflict serious or substantial bodily injury on the minor, or causes or allows the minor to take a dangerous controlled drug not prescribed for them) is a Class C felony (5 years). Endangering the welfare of a minor in the second degree (doing those things recklessly, or a parent, guardian or other person knowingly endangering a minor's physical or mental welfare by violating a legal duty of care) is a misdemeanor (up to 1 year). Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 709-903.5, 709-904; Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 706-640, 706-659, 706-660, 706-663 |
| Idaho | Idaho calls child endangerment 'injury to children.' Willfully causing or allowing a child to suffer, be injured or be placed in a dangerous situation under circumstances likely to produce great bodily harm or death is punishable by up to one year in county jail or one to ten years in state prison (a felony). The same conduct under other circumstances is a misdemeanor (up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine under the general misdemeanor penalty). An adult who drives a minor while under the influence commits a misdemeanor, which becomes a felony punishable by up to ten years if the child is injured or killed. Idaho Code § 18-1501; § 18-113 |
| Illinois | Endangering the life or health of a child is knowingly causing or permitting a child under 18's life or health to be endangered, or placing a child in circumstances that endanger the child's life or health; a child 6 or younger left in a car for more than 10 minutes without a person 14 or older in sight may be inferred to be unattended. A first offense is a Class A misdemeanor (less than one year in jail and up to $2,500). A second or subsequent offense is a Class 3 felony (2 to 5 years), and an offense that is a proximate cause of the child's death is a Class 3 felony with 2 to 10 years. An amendment effective January 1, 2027 (P.A. 104-832) also makes it a Class 3 felony after a prior conviction for a substantially equivalent offense in another state. 720 ILCS 5/12C-5; 730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-40, 5/5-4.5-55 |
| Indiana | Neglect of a dependent is when a person caring for a dependent (such as a child) knowingly or intentionally places the dependent in a situation that endangers life or health, abandons or cruelly confines the dependent, or deprives the dependent of necessary support or required education; it is a Level 6 felony (6 months to 2.5 years). It becomes a Level 5 felony if it causes bodily injury or occurs where certain drugs are being dealt or made, a Level 3 felony if it causes serious bodily injury, and a Level 1 felony (20 to 40 years) when an adult's neglect causes the death or catastrophic injury of a dependent under 14 or a dependent with a disability. Contributing to the delinquency of a minor (an adult encouraging or causing a child to commit a delinquent act) is a Class A misdemeanor, but becomes a felony when the child's act would be a felony, when an adult 21 or older involves a child under 16, or when furnishing alcohol or drugs causes a death (Level 5). IC 35-46-1-4; IC 35-46-1-8; IC 35-50-2-4, -5, -6, -7 |
| Iowa | A parent, guardian, custodian or household member commits child endangerment by, among other things, knowingly creating a substantial risk to a child's physical, mental or emotional health or safety, using unreasonable force or cruelty, willfully depriving the child of food, shelter, health care or supervision, knowingly allowing continued abuse, abandoning the child, or exposing the child to meth manufacture. It is a class B felony (up to fifty years) if the child dies, a class C felony if it causes serious injury, a class D felony if it causes bodily injury (or involves meth exposure, or a registered child sex offender having control of a minor), and an aggravated misdemeanor otherwise. Contributing to the delinquency of a minor - such as encouraging a child under 18 to commit a delinquent act or break any law - is a simple misdemeanor. Iowa Code §§ 726.6, 709A.1, 709A.2 |
| Kansas | Endangering a child - knowingly and unreasonably causing or permitting a child under 18 to be placed in a situation where the child's life, body or health may be endangered - is a class A person misdemeanor (up to one year in jail). Aggravated endangering a child - doing so recklessly where the child is actually endangered, or exposing a child to meth or fentanyl dealing or manufacture - is a severity level 9 person felony, or level 6 if the child is physically harmed, and must be served consecutively. Contributing to a child's misconduct or deprivation (for example, encouraging a child to commit a misdemeanor or to drink under age, or helping a runaway hide) is a class A nonperson misdemeanor; sheltering or concealing a runaway is a severity level 8 felony, and encouraging a child to commit a felony is a severity level 7 felony. K.S.A. 21-5601, 21-5603 |
| Kentucky | A parent, guardian or custodian who fails or refuses to use reasonable diligence to keep a child from becoming neglected, dependent or delinquent commits endangering the welfare of a minor, a Class A misdemeanor (up to 12 months and $500). Contributing to delinquency is covered by unlawful transaction with a minor in the third degree - knowingly getting a minor to commit other criminal activity, become a habitual truant or persistently disobey a parent, or (other than a parent) supplying a minor with alcohol - also a Class A misdemeanor. KRS 530.060, 530.070 |
| Louisiana | Child abuse or neglect is called cruelty to juveniles: intentional or criminally negligent mistreatment or neglect of a child under 17 by someone 17 or older that causes unjustifiable pain or suffering, or exposing a child to a drug lab or drug deals. It is punished by a fine up to $1,000, up to 10 years with or without hard labor, or both (up to 20 years at hard labor when the victim is 8 or younger). Second-degree cruelty to juveniles, which causes serious bodily injury or neurological impairment, carries up to 40 years at hard labor. Contributing to the delinquency of juveniles (enticing or permitting a child under 17 to commit crimes, visit bars, etc.) is generally punishable by a fine up to $500, up to 6 months, or both, with higher penalties for sexually immoral acts (up to 2 years) and for involving a child in a violent or drug felony (2 to 10 years at hard labor, or the sentence for the underlying felony if less). La. R.S. 14:93(A), (D); R.S. 14:93.2.3; R.S. 14:92(C)-(E) |
| Maine | Child endangerment is called endangering the welfare of a child. It is generally a Class D crime (less than one year and up to $2,000) and covers recklessly endangering a child's health, safety or welfare by violating a duty of care or protection, knowingly depriving a child in one's care of necessary health care so the child is in danger of serious harm, giving alcohol, tobacco, ammunition or gunpowder to a child under 16, and negligently leaving a loaded firearm where a child under 16 gets it and uses or fires it. It becomes a Class C crime (up to 5 years) when a parent or caretaker recklessly fails to protect a child from further injury after knowing the child was seriously injured by someone else's unlawful force. 17-A M.R.S. § 554; § 1604(1) |
| Maryland | Child neglect - a parent, family or household member, or caretaker intentionally failing to provide for a minor's physical or mental-health needs in a way that creates a substantial risk of harm - is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 5 years and/or $5,000 (failure due solely to lack of money or homelessness is not neglect). Child abuse in the second degree (a caretaker or family/household member causing physical injury through cruel treatment or a malicious act) is a felony with up to 15 years; first-degree child abuse (severe physical injury or death) carries up to 25 years, up to 40 years if a child 13 or older dies, and up to life if a child under 13 dies. Contributing to a child's delinquency or need of supervision is punishable by up to 3 years and/or a $2,500 fine. Md. Code, Crim. Law §§ 3-602.1, 3-601; Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 3-8A-30 |
| Massachusetts | Reckless endangerment of a child is wantonly or recklessly engaging in conduct that creates a substantial risk of serious bodily injury or sexual abuse to a child under 18, or wantonly or recklessly failing to take reasonable steps to reduce such a risk when there is a duty to act; it is punished by up to 2.5 years in the house of correction (a misdemeanor). Contributing to the delinquency of a child (causing, inducing, abetting or encouraging it) is punishable by a fine up to $500, up to 1 year, or both. G.L. c. 265, § 13L; G.L. c. 119, § 63 |
| Michigan | Michigan grades child abuse (a child is under 18) in four degrees. First-degree (knowingly or intentionally causing serious physical or mental harm) is a felony punishable by life or any term of years. Second-degree (serious harm caused by an omission or reckless act, or knowingly committing an act likely to cause serious harm or that is cruel to a child) is a felony with up to 10 years (20 with a prior conviction). Third-degree (knowingly or intentionally causing physical harm) is a felony with up to 2 years (5 with a prior). Fourth-degree (an omission or reckless act causing physical harm, or an act posing an unreasonable risk of harm whether or not harm results) is a misdemeanor with up to 1 year, or a felony with up to 2 years after a prior conviction. Contributing to the neglect or delinquency of a child under 17 is a misdemeanor. MCL 750.136b; MCL 750.145 |
| Minnesota | A parent, guardian or caretaker who willfully deprives a child of necessary food, clothing, shelter, health care or supervision when able to provide it, in a way that harms or is likely to substantially harm the child, commits neglect of a child; one who intentionally or recklessly places a child in a situation likely to substantially harm the child or cause death, or knowingly lets a child be present where illegal drugs are sold or made, commits child endangerment. Each is a gross misdemeanor (up to 364 days and/or $3,000), and becomes a felony with up to 5 years and/or $10,000 if the child suffers substantial harm. Contributing to the delinquency of a child (encouraging, causing or contributing to a child's delinquency or juvenile petty offense by act, word or omission) is a gross misdemeanor. Minn. Stat. § 609.378, subd. 1; § 260B.425, subd. 1 |
| Mississippi | A parent, guardian or other person who intentionally, knowingly or recklessly contributes to the neglect or delinquency of a child, or whose act or omission results in abuse of a child, commits a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 and/or up to one year in jail. Failing to provide necessary food, clothing, shelter or reasonably necessary medical care carries up to five years in the Department of Corrections and/or up to $5,000; knowingly permitting continuing physical or sexual abuse of a child carries up to ten years and/or up to $10,000. Felonious child abuse (burning, torture, choking, poisoning, starving, a deadly weapon, or serious bodily harm) carries five years to life, other listed abuse causing bodily harm carries 2 to 10 years, and a second felonious abuse conviction carries life. Miss. Code Ann. § 97-5-39(1), (2) |
| Missouri | Endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree (knowingly creating a substantial risk to the life, body or health of a child under 18, a caretaker's sexual conduct with the child, encouraging a child to commit weapons or drug crimes, or making or handling fentanyl or methamphetamine around a child) is a class D felony (up to 7 years). It rises to a class C felony with physical injury, a repeat offense or a pattern by two or more people, a class B felony with serious physical injury or fentanyl, and a class A felony if the child dies. Second-degree endangerment (criminal negligence toward a child under 17, or encouraging a child into delinquent conduct or a public nuisance) is a class A misdemeanor (up to one year and $2,000), or a class E felony if part of a pattern by two or more people. RSMo §§ 568.045, 568.050; §§ 558.011, 558.002 |
| Montana | Endangering the welfare of children covers a parent or supervisor who knowingly endangers a child under 18 by violating a duty of care, an adult who contributes to delinquency (for example supplying intoxicants or marijuana to a child, or encouraging a child under 16 to run away or engage in sexual conduct), and committing domestic assault in front of a child. It is a misdemeanor with up to $500 and/or six months in jail (up to $1,000 for a second offense); making dangerous drugs where children may be present is a felony with up to five years and $10,000, or up to ten years and $25,000 if a child is seriously injured. Criminal child endangerment, a separate felony, covers causing a substantial risk of death or serious injury to a child under 14 (for example denying urgent medical care, or driving under the influence with the child in the car), with up to ten years and/or $50,000. The statute says letting a child walk to school, play outside or stay home alone at a mature age is not neglect. MCA 45-5-622, 45-5-628 |
| Nebraska | Child abuse covers knowingly, intentionally or negligently causing or permitting a minor child to be placed in a situation that endangers the child's life or physical or mental health, cruelly confined or punished, deprived of necessary food, clothing, shelter or care, or exposed to sexual exploitation, sexual abuse or trafficking. Negligent child abuse without serious injury is a Class I misdemeanor (up to one year and $1,000); knowing and intentional abuse without serious injury, or negligent abuse causing serious bodily injury, is a Class IIIA felony (up to 3 years); negligent abuse causing death is a Class IIA felony; knowing abuse causing serious injury is a Class II felony; and knowing abuse causing death is a Class IB felony. Contributing to the delinquency of a child under 18 is a Class I misdemeanor. Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 28-707, 28-709; Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-105, § 28-106 |
| Nevada | Willfully causing a child to suffer abuse, neglect or endangerment is a category B felony: 1 to 6 years for a first offense without substantial bodily or mental harm (2 to 15 for a repeat), 2 to 20 years with substantial harm, and life with parole eligibility after 15 years if a child under 14 suffers substantial harm from sexual abuse or exploitation. A caretaker who permits such abuse faces the same penalties when there is substantial harm, but without substantial harm it is a gross misdemeanor (up to 364 days and $2,000) for a first offense and a category C felony for a repeat. Contributing to the neglect, need of supervision or delinquency of a child under 18 is a misdemeanor. NRS 200.508, 201.110; NRS 193.130, 193.140, 193.150 |
| New Hampshire | Endangering the welfare of a child is knowingly endangering a child under 18 by purposely violating a duty of care, protection or support, or inducing the child into conduct that endangers the child's health or safety (tattooing or branding a child also counts). It is a misdemeanor. It is a class B felony (up to 7 years and $4,000) when the person solicits a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity to create images or to engage in sexual penetration. Faith-based failure to provide care under a recognized religion is not an offense under this section. RSA 639:3; RSA 651:2, 625:9 |
| New Jersey | Endangering the welfare of a child: a parent or other person with a legal duty of care who causes a child harm that would make the child abused or neglected under the child-welfare law commits a crime of the second degree (five to 10 years); anyone else who does so commits a crime of the third degree (three to five years). The same split applies to sexual conduct that would impair or debauch a child's morals. Separately, any parent, guardian or caretaker who abuses, abandons, is cruel to or neglects a child is guilty of a crime of the fourth degree (up to 18 months). N.J.S. 2C:24-4(a); R.S. 9:6-3; N.J.S. 2C:43-3, 2C:43-6, 2C:43-8 |
| New Mexico | Abuse of a child (New Mexico's child endangerment law) is knowingly, intentionally or negligently, and without justifiable cause, causing or permitting a child under 18 to be placed in a situation that may endanger the child's life or health, tortured, cruelly confined or punished, or exposed to the weather. Without death or great bodily harm it is a third degree felony for a first offense and a second degree felony for later offenses; with great bodily harm it is a first degree felony; negligent abuse causing death, and intentional abuse causing the death of a child 12 to 18, are first degree felonies; intentional abuse causing the death of a child under 12 is a first degree felony resulting in the death of a child (life imprisonment). Abandonment of a child by a parent, guardian or custodian is a misdemeanor, or a second degree felony if it results in death or great bodily harm. Contributing to the delinquency of a minor (any act or omission that causes or tends to encourage delinquency of a person under 18) is a fourth degree felony. NMSA 1978, § 30-6-1(B), (D)-(H); § 30-6-3; § 31-18-15(A) |
| New York | Endangering the welfare of a child is a class A misdemeanor (up to 364 days in jail). It covers knowingly acting in a way likely to injure the physical, mental or moral welfare of a child under 17, or directing or allowing such a child into work dangerous to life or health; and a parent, guardian or other legally responsible person failing to use reasonable diligence to stop a child under 18 from becoming abused, neglected, a juvenile delinquent or a person in need of supervision. Leaving an infant 30 days old or younger safely with an appropriate person or suitable place, with prompt notice, is not an offense. The statute does not make it a felony. N.Y. Penal Law § 260.10; § 70.15 |
| North Carolina | A parent or caretaker of a child under 16 who inflicts, allows, or creates a substantial risk of physical injury other than by accident commits misdemeanor child abuse, a Class A1 misdemeanor. It becomes felony child abuse when the child suffers serious physical injury (Class D; Class G if from a willful or grossly negligent act showing reckless disregard for human life) or serious bodily injury (Class B2; Class E if from such a grossly negligent act), when a sexual act or child prostitution is involved (Class D), or for routine infliction of injury with deprivation of necessities (Class B2). An adult who knowingly causes or encourages a juvenile to become delinquent, undisciplined, abused or neglected commits contributing to delinquency, a Class 1 misdemeanor. N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 14-318.2, 14-318.4, 14-316.1 |
| North Dakota | A parent, household member, guardian or custodian who willfully inflicts or allows mental or bodily injury to a child commits child abuse, a class C felony (up to five years), or a class B felony (up to 10 years) if the child is under six; it is a class B felony if the child suffers permanent loss or impairment of a bodily function (class A if under six), and a paid caregiver who abuses a child commits a class B felony. Conviction carries a mandatory minimum of one year in prison. Willful child neglect by a caretaker (failing to provide proper care, subsistence or education, or letting the child be in disreputable places or harmful work) is a class C felony. Willfully encouraging or contributing to the delinquency of a minor, or to a child being in need of protection, is a class A misdemeanor (up to 360 days), and a class C felony if it involves causing a child under 16 to engage in sexual conduct in a visual depiction. N.D.C.C. §§ 14-09-22, 14-09-22.1, 14-10-06; N.D.C.C. § 12.1-32-01 |
| Ohio | Endangering children: a parent or custodian who creates a substantial risk to a child's health or safety by violating a duty of care, or anyone who abuses a child, commits a first-degree misdemeanor (up to 180 days), a fourth-degree felony with a prior child-abuse or neglect conviction, and a third-degree (neglect) or second-degree (abuse) felony if the child suffers serious physical harm. Torturing or cruelly abusing a child, excessive physical punishment or restraint creating a substantial risk of serious harm, or repeated unwarranted discipline is a third-degree felony, or second-degree with serious harm or a prior; using a child in sexual material is a second-degree felony. Drunk driving with a child in the vehicle is a first-degree misdemeanor, rising to a felony with serious harm or priors. Contributing to the unruliness or delinquency of a child (including contributing to habitual truancy) is a first-degree misdemeanor, each day a separate offense. R.C. 2919.22, 2919.24; R.C. 2929.14, 2929.18, 2929.24, 2929.28 |
| Oklahoma | A parent, guardian or person with custody commits child endangerment by knowingly permitting physical or sexual abuse of a child, knowingly letting a child be where drugs are being manufactured, knowingly letting a child ride with an impaired driver, or driving under the influence with a child in the vehicle; it is a Class B6 felony punished by up to four (4) years in prison, a fine up to $5,000, or both. Willful or malicious child neglect by a person responsible for the child (and enabling child neglect) is a Class B1 felony, and child abuse is a Class A3 felony, each punishable by up to life in prison, or up to one (1) year in county jail, or a fine of $500 to $5,000, or both. Causing or encouraging a minor to be delinquent or a runaway (contributing to delinquency) is a misdemeanor for a first offense (up to one (1) year in county jail and/or a $1,000 fine) and a Class D3 felony for a second offense; an adult who gets a minor to commit a felony is guilty of a Class B5 felony punishable as the underlying felony. 21 O.S. §§ 852.1, 843.5, 856 |
| Oregon | Endangering the welfare of a minor (knowingly letting a child under 18 witness sexual conduct, stay where illegal drug or cannabis activity is going on, or gamble, or selling a minor drug paraphernalia) is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 364 days and $6,250). Leaving a child under 10 unattended long enough to endanger the child is second-degree child neglect, also a Class A misdemeanor. Knowingly leaving a child under 16 in a vehicle or premises where drugs are being delivered or manufactured is first-degree child neglect, a Class B felony (up to 10 years). Knowingly withholding necessary food, care or medical attention from someone in your care is first-degree criminal mistreatment, a Class C felony (up to 5 years). ORS 163.575, 163.545, 163.547, 163.205 |
| Pennsylvania | A parent, guardian or other person supervising a child under 18 (or someone who employs or supervises them) who knowingly endangers the child's welfare by violating a duty of care, protection or support commits endangering the welfare of children, a misdemeanor of the first degree (up to 5 years). It is a felony of the third degree (up to 7 years) if it is a course of conduct or creates a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury, a felony of the second degree if both, and the grade goes up one level if the child was under six. An adult who corrupts the morals of a minor or encourages a minor to commit a crime (corruption of minors) commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, or a felony of the third degree for a course of conduct involving sexual offenses. 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 4304, 6301 |
| Rhode Island | A parent, guardian or person with custody who wantonly or recklessly creates a substantial risk of serious bodily injury or sexual abuse to a child under 18, or fails to take reasonable steps to reduce that risk when there is a duty to act, commits child endangerment, a felony punished by up to three (3) years or a $1,000 fine for a first offense and up to ten (10) years or a $5,000 fine for a repeat offense. Abandoning a child, gross or habitual cruelty, or letting a child habitually go without food, clothing or proper care is cruelty to or neglect of a child, a felony punished by one (1) to three (3) years or a fine up to $1,000. Knowingly encouraging or causing a child under 16 to break the law or engage in vicious or immoral conduct (contributing to delinquency) is a misdemeanor punished by up to one year or a $500 fine. Inflicting serious bodily injury on a child in one's care is first-degree child abuse (10 to 20 years). R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 11-9-5.4, 11-9-5, 11-9-4, 11-9-5.3 |
| South Carolina | A parent, guardian, or person with charge or custody of a child or responsible for the child's welfare who places the child at unreasonable risk of harm to life, physical or mental health or safety, does or causes bodily harm that endangers the child's life or health, or willfully abandons the child commits unlawful conduct toward a child, a felony punished by up to ten (10) years and/or a fine in the court's discretion. Cruelly ill-treating a child or depriving a child of necessary sustenance or shelter (cruelty to children) is a misdemeanor punished by up to 30 days or a $200 fine. A person over 18 who knowingly encourages or causes a minor to break the law or engage in other listed conduct (contributing to the delinquency of a minor) faces up to three (3) years and/or a $3,000 fine. S.C. Code §§ 63-5-70, 63-5-80, 16-17-490 |
| South Dakota | Abusing, exposing, torturing, tormenting or cruelly punishing a minor (short of aggravated assault) is a Class 4 felony (up to 10 years), or a Class 3 felony (up to 15 years) if the child is under seven; a convicted parent must take parenting instruction. A parent, guardian or custodian who knowingly permits physical or sexual abuse of a child commits a Class 6 felony (up to 2 years). Knowingly causing a child to be present where methamphetamine is used, sold or made is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Any person who causes, encourages or contributes to the abuse, neglect or delinquency of a child (contributing to delinquency) commits a Class 1 misdemeanor (up to one year and/or $2,000). SDCL 26-10-1, 26-10-30, 26-10-31, 26-9-1 |
| Tennessee | Knowingly injuring a child under 18 (child abuse) is a Class E felony, or Class D if the child is 8 or younger. Knowingly abusing or neglecting a child so that the child's health and welfare are harmed is a Class A misdemeanor (up to 11 months 29 days and a $2,500 fine), but a Class E felony if the child is 8 or younger. A parent or custodian who knowingly exposes a child 8 or younger to abuse or neglect, or fails to protect the child, resulting in injury or imminent danger (child endangerment) commits a Class A misdemeanor. An adult who contributes to or encourages the delinquency or unruly behavior of a child commits a Class A misdemeanor. Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 39-15-401, 37-1-156; Tenn. Code Ann. § 40-35-111 |
| Texas | Endangering a child (intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or with criminal negligence placing a child under 15 in imminent danger of death, injury or impairment, including through methamphetamine or fentanyl-type drugs) is a state jail felony (180 days to 2 years). Abandoning a child in one's care in a way that exposes the child to unreasonable risk is a state jail felony if the person meant to return, a third-degree felony (2 to 10 years) if not, and a second-degree felony (2 to 20 years) if a reasonable person would see imminent danger. Injury to a child is graded from a state jail felony (criminal negligence) up to a first-degree felony (intentionally or knowingly causing serious bodily injury). Tex. Penal Code §§ 22.041, 22.04; Tex. Penal Code §§ 12.21-12.35 |
| Utah | Endangerment of a child (knowingly or intentionally causing or permitting a child to be exposed to, inhale, ingest or contact a controlled substance, chemical substance or drug paraphernalia) is a third-degree felony (up to 5 years), second degree (1 to 15 years) if the child is injured, and first degree (5 years to life) if the child dies. Child abuse causing injury is a class A misdemeanor if intentional or knowing, class B if reckless and class C if criminally negligent; aggravated child abuse (serious injury) is a first-degree felony if intentional or knowing and third degree if reckless. An adult who knowingly encourages a minor to commit a class B or C misdemeanor or an infraction commits contributing to the delinquency of a minor, a class B misdemeanor (up to 6 months and $1,000). Utah Code §§ 76-5-112.5, 76-5-109, 76-5-109.2, 76-4-206; Utah Code §§ 76-3-203, 76-3-204, 76-3-205, 76-3-301 |
| Vermont | A person over 16 who has custody or care of a child and willfully assaults, ill-treats, neglects, abandons or exposes the child in a way that causes unnecessary suffering or endangers health commits cruelty to a child: up to 2 years and/or $500, rising to up to 10 years and/or $20,000 if the child dies, suffers serious bodily injury or is subjected to sexual conduct. Abandoning or exposing a child under two so that the child's life or health is endangered carries up to 10 years and/or $10,000 (with a safe-haven exception for infants up to 30 days old). Causing, encouraging or contributing to the delinquency of a minor carries up to 2 years and/or $2,000. 13 V.S.A. §§ 1304, 1303, 1301 |
| Virginia | A parent, guardian or other caretaker of a child under 18 who by a willful act or omission causes or permits serious injury to the child is guilty of a Class 4 felony (2 to 10 years). A caretaker whose willful act or omission is so gross, wanton and culpable as to show reckless disregard for human life is guilty of a Class 6 felony (1 to 5 years), even without injury. An adult who willfully contributes to, encourages or causes a child to become delinquent, in need of services or supervision, or abused or neglected (or to join a criminal street gang) is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor (up to 12 months and $2,500). Va. Code §§ 18.2-371.1(A)-(B), 18.2-371; Va. Code §§ 18.2-10, 18.2-11 |
| Washington | Washington calls child neglect 'criminal mistreatment' by a parent or caretaker who, with criminal negligence, withholds the basic necessities of life: first degree (causing great bodily harm) is a class B felony (up to 10 years); second degree (creating an imminent and substantial risk of death or great bodily harm, or causing substantial bodily harm) is a class C felony (up to 5 years); third degree (creating an imminent and substantial risk of substantial bodily harm) is a gross misdemeanor (up to 364 days and $5,000). Knowingly letting a dependent child be exposed to methamphetamine or its manufacturing chemicals (endangerment with a controlled substance) is a class B felony. RCW 9A.42.020, 9A.42.030, 9A.42.035, 9A.42.100; RCW 9A.20.021 |
| West Virginia | Child neglect by a parent, guardian, custodian or person in a position of trust that creates a substantial risk of bodily injury is a misdemeanor for a first offense ($100-$1,000 fine and/or up to 6 months in jail); a repeat offense is a felony (1-5 years). It is a felony if the neglect causes bodily injury (2-10 years, or up to 1 year in jail at the court's discretion), creates a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury (1-10 years), or causes serious bodily injury (5-15 years). Neglect causing a child's death is a felony of 10-40 years and/or a $2,000-$10,000 fine. Neglect due primarily to lack of money is excluded, and child abuse carries parallel grades. Separately, an adult (18+) who knowingly contributes to or encourages a child's delinquency commits a misdemeanor ($50-$500 fine and/or up to 1 year). W. Va. Code §§ 61-8D-4, 61-8D-4a, 61-8D-3, 61-8D-10 |
| Wisconsin | A person responsible for a child's welfare who, for reasons other than poverty, negligently fails to provide necessary care, food, clothing, medical care, shelter, education, or protection from drug manufacturing or dealing, seriously endangering the child, commits child neglect. Grades depend on the result: Class A misdemeanor if harm was likely but did not occur (up to 9 months and/or $10,000); Class I felony in that situation if the child was under 6 or had a known disability; Class H felony if the child suffers bodily harm; Class G for emotional damage; Class F for great bodily harm or if the child becomes a victim of a child sex offense; Class D if the child dies. Contributing to the delinquency of a child is a Class A misdemeanor, a Class H felony if the child's act is a felony, and a Class D felony if death results. Wis. Stat. §§ 948.21, 948.40; Wis. Stat. §§ 939.50, 939.51 |
| Wyoming | A parent, guardian or custodian may not abandon a child without just cause or, knowingly or with criminal negligence, endanger the child's life or health by violating a duty of care, protection or support. No person may knowingly cause, encourage or contribute to a child's violation of any law (contributing to delinquency), bring a child into a place used for prostitution or gambling, furnish illegal drugs to a child, or hide a runaway child's location. These offenses (child means under 16) are misdemeanors with up to 1 year and/or a $1,000 fine; a second violation is a felony with up to 5 years and/or $5,000. Knowingly exposing a child to methamphetamine or fentanyl (letting the child ingest it or stay where it is made, sold, stored or used) is a felony with up to 5 years and/or $5,000. Child abuse causing physical or mental injury is a felony up to 10 years (25 years if aggravated). W.S. 6-4-403, 6-4-405, 6-2-503 |
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.