Child Abandonment

Child abandonment occurs when a parent, guardian, or person in charge of a child either deserts a child without any regard for the child’s physical health, safety or welfare and with the intention of wholly abandoning the child, or in some instances, fails to provide necessary care for a child living under their roof.

While child abandonment typically involves physical abandonment – such as leaving a child at a stranger’s doorstep when no one is home — it may also include extreme cases of emotional abandonment — such as when a “workaholic” parent offers little or no physical contact or emotional support over long periods of time.

Unfortunately, abandoned children (also called “foundlings”) who do not get their needs met often grow up with low self-esteem, emotional dependency, helplessness, and other issues.

A person charged with child abandonment may face felony or misdemeanor penalties and other consequences.

The term “child abandonment” is broadly categorized and used to describe a variety of behaviors. Specific examples of child abandonment vary, but common actions that may lead to child abandonment charges may include:

• Leaving a child with another person without provision for the child’s support and meaningful communication with the child for a period of three months;
• Making only minimal efforts to support and communicate with a child
• Failing for at least six months to maintain regular visitation with a child;
• Failed to participate in a suitable plan or program designed to reunite the parent or guardian with a child;
• Leaving an infant on a doorstep, in trash cans and dumpsters, and on the side of the road
• Being absent from the home for a period of time that created a substantial risk of serious harm to a child left in the home
• Failing to respond to notice of child protective proceedings; or
• Being unwilling to provide care, support, or supervision for the child

Child abandonment laws vary from state to state. Many states include child abandonment within its child abuse laws and vice versa, while some states have laws specifically targeting the act of child abandonment.

Most states classify child abandonment as a felony, which may include situations where a parent or guardian physically abandons a child in any place with the intent of relinquishing all rights and responsibilities to the child.

Other states classify child abandonment as a misdemeanor (with lesser penalties), including situations that involve non-physical acts of abandonment.

In general, child abandonment occurs when:

• A parent, guardian, or other person having physical custody or control of a child without regard for the mental or physical health, safety, or welfare of the child knowing leaves a child (typically under the age of 13) without supervision by a responsible person (typically over the age of 14), or Fails to maintain contact with the child or provide reasonable support for a specified period of time.
• In the criminal context, child abandonment is defined as physically abandoning a child but may also include emotional abandonment, such as failing to provide a child’s necessary needs.

For example, in some states, a parent may be guilty of abandonment if they fail to provide necessary clothing, food, shelter, or medical care for their child.

In other states, however, parents are only punished for deserting a child with the intention to abandon.

Because child abandonment is considered child abuse in some states, certain people may be required to report known or suspected child abandonment cases to the proper authorities. Check your state’s child abuse laws to see if you qualify as a “mandatory reporter.”

Most jurisdictions have exceptions to child abandonment in the form of safe haven laws. Safe Haven Laws allow mothers to safely abandon their newborn infants in safe locations – such as churches, hospitals, and fire stations – without fear of being charged with the crime of child abandonment.

While it is necessary in some instances to leave a child at home alone, states typically offer age guidelines to help parents avoid child abandonment charges. Under some state statutes, leaving a child at home alone may constitute child abandonment, depending on several factors, including the child’s age, duration of time the child was left without adult supervision, and economic hardship or illness of the parent or guardian. Read tips on leaving a child home alone.

Depending on the state, a person charged with criminal child abandonment faces a wide range of penalties and sentencing options, depending on whether the state makes it a felony or misdemeanor. A court will consider the factors listed above, but the penalties may include fines, termination of parental rights supervised access to the child, and jail time.

Also, a person may face reckless abandonment charges of a more significant penalty if a child dies due to the abandonment.

If you are facing child abandonment charges, it is usually best to work with a criminal defense lawyer in your area to reduce or lessen the severity of penalties in all cases involving child abuse.