What are the consequences for leaving a 13 year old alone until 4:00 in the morning?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
What are the consequences for leaving a 13 year old alone until 4:00 in the morning?
Asked on September 24, 2012 under Family Law, Texas
Answers:
B.H.F., Member, Texas State Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
The best answer is it depends on how the child was left alone, any unusual situations, and the maturity of the child. A thirteen year old that is sophisticated enough to use the phone, in a secure house/dwelling, in a good neighborhood, with adequate food and water that is easy for the child to prepare-- is an otherwise safe child. There could be a call to CPS, but probably the parent would only be required to complete a parenting class, if anything. The results, would be different, however, if there were any endangering factors.
For example, if the child is left alone in a house in a neighborhood with a high crime rate-- that could be considered child endangerment. If the child has any special needs and cannot care for themselves-- this could also be considered endangerment or child abandonment. The number of aggravating factors will control the degree of offense, but most child endangerment statutes are felony level offenses which carry a range of punishment to 180 days in jail to twenty years in jail. If the situation was not too bad and the parent has a limited history, then they could qualify for probation.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.