Appendix O States Definitions of Child Endangerment as More Severe Than Neglect1 By: Tolulope Adetayo, Rafaela Rodrigues, Monica Bates and Leslye E. Orloff December 27, 20172 This document summarizes the common themes in state definitions of child endangerment and compares the statutory language with child neglect. There are over twenty states in the United States with child endangerment laws, each state providing statutory language that suggests that the former is similar to child neglect. In addition, child endangerment also constitutes child abuse in some states. State laws often categorize child endangerment as placing a child in a situation that might endanger the child's life, health, welfare, morals, or emotional well-being. While neglect focus on failure to meet a child’s basic needs including the failure to provide adequate health care, supervision, clothing, nutrition, housing as well as their physical, emotional needs. Furthermore, the statutory language suggests that the standard of endangerment is more severe than neglect. We developed the list below to help courts identify when other states have statutory language similar to their state statute. When state statutes are similar, case law in one jurisdiction can provide persuasive authority interpreting the statute that may be useful to state courts in a wide range of family court proceedings. The information contained in this document will also be helpful to state court judges issuing findings that immigrant children need as a prerequisite to filing for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS). Any state law definition of child endangerment can apply in any state court proceeding for purposes of issuing the required SIJS findings. The first section of this document highlights the common themes in state laws defining child endangerment and lists which actions or failures act as constituting child endangerment. The last section of this document contains a list by state of each of the child endangerment and neglect statutory language that suggest that the standard in the former could be higher than the latter depending on the state. Reasonably fails to prevent the child from becoming dependent or delinquent - Alabama, Delaware; States that define endangerment as substantial risk to death – Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, New York; Substantial risk of physical injury – Arizona, Arkansas, California, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire; Health Endangerment/Health Impairment – California, Connecticut, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Missouri, Ohio, New Hampshire; Child Abuse – Delaware, Ohio, Nebraska, New Jersey; o Risk of bodily injury – D.C.; o Mental or emotional harm – Iowa; Deprivation of food, clothing, health care or supervision – Iowa, Nebraska; 1 This publication was developed under grant number SJI-15-T-234 from the State Justice Institute. The points of view expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the State Justice Institute. 2 Reports are labeled with the date of last update. If you reach a conclusion that conflicts with the material herein, you can contribute to our knowledge by sending an email to [email protected]. National Immigrant Women’s Advocacy Project (NIWAP, pronounced new-app) American University, Washington College of Law 4910 Massachusetts Avenue NW · Suite 16, Lower Level · Washington, D.C. 20016 (o) 202.274.4457 · (f) 202.274.4226 · [email protected] · wcl.american.edu/niwap Physical and sexual abuse – Iowa, Massachusetts; Violating duty of care, protection, or support – Montana, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Ohio. States Endangerment –Knowingly/Intentional Neglect Alabama Endangering welfare of child - Ala. Code § Definitions - Ala. Code § 26-16-2(6) 13A-13-6 (6) NEGLECT. Harm to a child's health or (a) A man or woman commits the crime of welfare by a person responsible for the child's endangering the welfare of a child when: health or welfare which occurs through negligent (1) He or she knowingly directs or authorizes treatment, including the failure to provide a child less than 16 years of age to engage in an adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical care. occupation involving a substantial risk of danger to his life or health; or Definitions - Ala. Code § 26-14-1(2) (2) He or she, as a parent, guardian or other (2) NEGLECT. Negligent treatment or person legally charged with the care or custody of maltreatment of a child, including the failure to a child less than 18 years of age, fails to exercise provide adequate food, medical treatment, reasonable diligence in the control of such child supervision, clothing, or shelter. to prevent him or her from becoming a “dependent child” or a “delinquent child,” as defined in Section 12-15-1. Alaska Endangering the welfare of a child in the first Neglect - Alaska Stat. Ann. § 47.10.014 degree - Alaska Stat. Ann. § 11.51.100 For purposes of this chapter, the court may (a) A person commits the crime of find neglect of a child if the parent, guardian, or endangering the welfare of a child in the first custodian fails to provide the child with adequate degree if, being a parent, guardian, or other food, clothing, shelter, education, medical person legally charged with the care of a child attention, or other care and control necessary for under 16 years of age, the person the child's physical and mental health and (1) Intentionally deserts the child in a place development, though financially able to do so or under circumstances creating a substantial risk of offered financial or other reasonable means to do physical injury to the child; so. (2) Leaves the child with another person who is not a parent, guardian, or lawful custodian of Definitions - Alaska Stat. Ann. § 47.17.290(3) the child knowing that the person (3) “child abuse or neglect” means the (A) Is registered or required to register as a physical injury or neglect, mental injury, sexual sex offender under AS 12.63 or a law or abuse, sexual exploitation, or maltreatment of a ordinance in another jurisdiction with similar child under the age of 18 by a person under requirements; circumstances that indicate that the child's health (B) Has been charged by complaint, or welfare is harmed or threatened thereby; in this information, or indictment with a violation of paragraph, “mental injury” means an injury to the AS 11.41.410 - 11.41.455 or a law or ordinance emotional well-being, or intellectual or in another jurisdiction with similar elements; or psychological capacity of a child, as evidenced by (C) Has been charged by complaint, an observable and substantial impairment in the information, or indictment with an attempt, child's ability to function. solicitation, or conspiracy to commit a crime described in (B) of this paragraph; or (3) Leaves the child with another person knowing that the person has previously physically mistreated or had sexual contact with any child, and the other person causes physical injury or engages in sexual contact with the child. (b) A person commits the crime of endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree if the person transports a child in a motor American University, Washington College of Law 2 Alaska (Cont.) vehicle, aircraft, or watercraft while in violation of AS28.35.030 . (c) In this section, "physically mistreated" means (1) Having committed an act punishable under AS 11.41.100 - 11.41.250; or (2) Having applied force to a child that, under the circumstances in which it was applied, or considering the age or physical condition of the child, constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of conduct that a reasonable person would observe in the situation because of the substantial and unjustifiable risk of (A) Death; (B) Serious or protracted disfigurement; (C) Protracted impairment of health; (D) Loss or impairment of the function of a body member or organ; (E) Substantial skin bruising, burning, or other skin injury; (F) Internal bleeding or subdural hematoma; (G) Bone fracture; or (H) Prolonged or extreme pain, swelling, or injury to soft tissue. (d) Endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree under (a)(3) of this section is a (1) Class B felony if the child dies; (2) Class C felony if the child suffers sexual contact, sexual penetration, or serious physical injury; or (3) Class A misdemeanor if the child suffers physical injury. (e) Endangering the welfare of a child under (b) of this subsection is a class A misdemeanor. (f) Endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree under (a)(1) or (2) of this section is a class C felony Arizona Endangerment - Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-1201 Definitions - Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann.§ 8-201(25) A. A person commits endangerment by recklessly “Neglect” or “neglected” means: endangering another person with a substantial (a) The inability or unwillingness of a parent, risk of imminent death or physical injury. guardian or custodian of a child to provide that B. Endangerment involving a substantial risk of child with supervision, food, clothing, shelter or imminent death is a class 6 felony. In all other medical care if that inability or unwillingness cases, it is a class 1 misdemeanor. causes unreasonable risk of harm to the child's health or welfare, except if the inability of a Child or vulnerable adult abuse - Ariz. Rev. parent, guardian or custodian to provide services Stat. Ann. § 13-3623 to meet the needs of a child with a disability or A. Under circumstances likely to produce death chronic illness is solely