Endangering the Welfare of a Child Lawyers

If you have a child that is in your care, you are responsible for making sure that child is not put in harms way at any time. If you fail to keep a child from dangerous situations, under New York State Penal Law 260.10, you could be charged be charged with endangering the welfare of a child. This is a crime. And like any crime that places a child in immediate danger, you could land in a world of trouble. If you are charged with child endangerment, you should seek out the counsel of an attorney immediately.

Not only are child endangerment laws serious, they can create negative attention for you and land you in jail. In many of these cases, you will be judged by the court of public opinion. Children are unable to take care of themselves, so they have to rely upon adults for help. There are three primary elements associated of endangering the welfare of a child under New York state law:

• Knowingly endangering the welfare of a child if you act in a way that is mentally, physically or morally detrimental to the well-being of a child under 17.
• If you permit a child under the age of 17 in your care to engage in a dangerous activity.
• If you make no reasonable effort to prevent a child from being abused or neglected.

Examples of endangering a welfare of a child include allowing a child to drink alcohol or use drugs at their home. Other examples could include your child being ill and you not providing proper emergency care to get the child well. If the child dies under those circumstances, you will face more serious charges. If you are accused of endangering the welfare of a child, find an experienced lawyer to help you put together a defense. Without a lawyer’s counsel, you could be jeopardizing your rights. A conviction could end in you losing your parental rights and even jail time.

There are actually occasions under New York law where there may be a solid defense for endangering the welfare of a child. On some occasions, religious beliefs may play a role in medical assistance. Some religions forbid the taking of certain medications, blood transfusions and surgeries, even if they are life-saving. This is a very slippery slope because the families religious beliefs have to weighed against the needs of the child. If you are in a situation where you feel that you have a good defense for endangering the welfare of your child, should seek out the help of a lawyer with a solid background in such matters.

When a person is accused of endangering the welfare of a child, there is often many other charges that will follow. For example, if a person hits a child, they can also be charged with felony assault. The charges for misdemeanors associated with child endangerment can be up to one year in prison. If you have a felony charge along with it, you could spend more than a year in prison. Due to the seriousness of these charges, you will need the legal representation possible. The Queens District Attorney will prosecute these alleged crimes to the fullest extent.

If you need help, seek out the counsel of a seasoned attorney who knows everything about child welfare endangerment laws. During your free consultation, you will receive an initial case review. Your attorney will advise you on what you could expect and also answer all your questions. The time to act is now. Pick up the phone and call a child endangerment attorney in Queens today.