Child Endangerment

Child endangerment is the subjection of minor children to inappropriate or dangerous conditions. Child endangerment is an indirect form of child abuse and is aggressively prosecuted in most states. It is generally charged when a parent/guardian/caretaker exposes a child to a dangerous or inappropriate situation/environment. For example, child endangerment might be charged where a parent drives an infant around in a car without a car seat; where the parent is driving a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol and the child is in the back seat; where the parent allows the child to be exposed to pornography or criminal activity; and even where the parent fails to obtain appropriate medical treatment for the child. Child endangerment is also referred to as “endangering the welfare of a child.”