What makes child abuse a felony

A lawyer of his stature knows the law, jargon and serves the courthouses of Riverside, Temecula, Murrieta, and Banning to guarantee that wherever you are based, you can get a Riverside criminal defense attorney that will help you in your hour of need.

Finding a Riverside child endangerment lawyer that has the skills and sensitivity to deal with your case is a rare find. Contact us on , or you can reach us online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Email Address. The Punishment for Misdemeanor Child Abuse Punishment for misdemeanor child abuse is all dependent on its charge.

When child abuse is classed as a misdemeanor, the punishment can be: Up to one year in county jail. Both imprisonment and the fine. The Defense of Misdemeanor Child Abuse Defending a case of this stature can comprise a wide variety of approaches.

In terms of a parent or guardian being responsible for their child, there are the following methods: The act was not willful. In other words, it was unintentional or an accident. The parent had a right to discipline their child and exercised it. Lawyer Directory. Call us at 1 Child Abuse Charges While all states have laws that govern physical attacks against children, such as battery or homicide, many others also have laws that specifically address child abuse.

Child abuse laws criminalize physical attacks against children or actions that result in harm to the child. Minor injuries, such as bruises, or more serious injuries, such as burns or broken bones, are all abusive if the adult intends to inflict them upon the child.

Even if the adult does not intend to cause the injury, or causes no injury at all, intentionally assaulting a child is abusive. Child abuse charges often arise out of cases where a parent or caregiver attempts to discipline a child. Courts have determined that acts of discipline must be considered under the circumstances of the event, and the parent or custodian must act in the best interests of the child. An adult can use reasonable actions to discipline a child, but unreasonable acts are usually considered abusive.

However, what is reasonable in one situation may not be reasonable in another. Courts consider the reasonableness of disciplinary actions based on factors such as the age of the child, the severity of the actions, the extent of any harm or potential harm the child suffered, and even the sociocultural background of the family. Sexual a buse. Sexual actions against a child are abusive. Children are not capable of granting consent, and when an adult engages in sexual activity with a minor, it is often charged as child abuse.

Sexual abuse can be the result of lying, coercion, bribery, or demands—proving physical acts of force isn't necessary. Accidental harm to a child is not considered abusive. However, accidents are not the same as careless or negligent actions, and such actions are covered under abuse laws.

Leaving children in a home to care for themselves, for example, can be an abusive act if the children are too young to look after themselves. Failing to provide regular medical care, adequate shelter, or emotional support can also count as abuse. Many state laws include verbal threats and emotional abuse as child abuse. In these situations, the child does not need to suffer any actual physical harm for an act to be abusive. This law explains that a person who causes a serious physical injury to a child younger than 16 who is in their care can be charged with a Class D felony.

For the purposes of this law, serious physical injury and serious bodily injury mean:. Under North Carolina law, you can face charges for a Class D felony if you:. You can face harsher penalties if you cause serious bodily injury to the child.

You can be charged with a Class B2 felony if you intentionally inflict any serious physical injury on the child or intentionally commit an assault on a child that results in any of the following to the child:.

If your willful act or grossly negligent omission in the care of a child under 16 shows a reckless disregard for human life and that act or omission results in serious bodily injury to the child, you can be charged with a Class E felony. This includes cases in which you fail to report a child as missing.

If your act or omission resulted in serious physical injury, you could be charged with a Class G felony. The criminal penalties for felony child abuse depend on the nature of the particular offense. General felony child abuse is a Class D offense in North Carolina.