Stamford Child Endangerment Lawyer
Pursuing a positive outcome in a child endangerment case is often a uniquely difficult endeavor, which is why retaining a top criminal domestic violence defense attorney is often so important. Whatever your situation is, a skilled Stamford child endangerment lawyer could ensure your rights are protected and advocate in your best interests.
How Do State Courts Prosecute Endangerment of a Child?
Instead of using the specific phrase “child endangerment,” Connecticut state law separately defines and criminalizes a few different actions that may endanger a child’s health, safety, or morals. Typically, most cases that Stamford child endangerment attorneys handle are prosecuted under Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S.) §53-21, which addresses “injury or risk of injury, or impairing morals of, children” commonly this is just known as “risk of injury to a minor”.
Is My Charge a Felony?
Almost all child endangerment charges are prosecuted as felonies. It is a class C felony offense to put a child under 16 years of age in a situation that endangers their life, physical health, or morals, or for someone to sell legal custody of a child under 16 to another party. Furthermore, indecent sexual contact with a child under 16 is a class B felony, punishable with a mandatory minimum prison sentence of five years upon conviction if the child in question is under 13 years of age.
In certain other cases, a parent or guardian may be charged with a class D felony for intentionally depriving their child of basic needs or treating them cruelly—or a class A misdemeanor if they do so inadvertently through negligence—under C.G.S. §53-20. Finally, under C.G.S. §53-21a, a parent or guardian who leaves a child alone in a motor vehicle or another public place may face class A misdemeanors if they do so during the day, or felony charges if they do so at night. A Stamford child endangerment attorney could help people facing these charges better understand what they are up against.
What Are the Potential Consequences of a Conviction?
With only a few exceptions, most child endangerment offenses in Connecticut are felony offenses, which means you may be punished by at least one year in prison for even a first conviction. In addition, C.G.S. §53-22 grants courts the authority to order anyone convicted of any child endangerment offense other than those defined by C.G.S. §53-21a to undergo psychiatric evaluation and treatment. Further, you may face investigation by the Department of Children and Families.
How Will a Charge or Conviction Impact My Family?
Allegations of child endangerment may have a dramatic effect on your family and home life as well. Any reports that suggest a child’s safety is in danger may provoke an investigation from the Connecticut Department of Children and Families, which may in turn result in family court hearings running concurrently with criminal proceedings. Without representation from an experienced attorney, a person accused of child endangerment in Stamford may be at risk not only of criminal fines and jail time, but potential loss of custody and visitation rights. To learn more, click here.
Consult with a Stamford Child Endangerment Attorney Today
No matter what specific charges you are facing, you have the legal right to quality legal representation, and it would be a mistake not to utilize that right to defend your best interests. Get in touch with a Stamford child endangerment lawyer today to see what may be possible in your case. Our hundreds of certified avvo.com reviews speak to our dedication and determination to help our clients. Call Mark Sherman Law today.