Abuse, neglect or endangerment of child- Penalties; definitions

Nevada Defense Attorney Defines Abuse & Endangerment of Child

In the state of Nevada, children are afforded special protections under the law. Parents and other caregivers are expected to take steps to provide care and ensure the safety and security of young people. All Nevadans are also prohibited from perpetrating any type of abuse or taking actions that would put children in danger.

Because children are considered to be vulnerable members of society, when an individual treats children wrongfully, the law imposes strict penalties upon that individual. A person who mistreats children could be charged with abuse, neglect or endangerment of children. There are many serious penalties imposed for the mistreatment of children, and anyone who is under investigation or who has been arrested for an alleged crime involving a child should get legal help right away to deal with criminal charges that could be life-changing.

LV Criminal Defense can provide legal representation to defendants accused of abuse, neglect, or endangerment of children. This offense is considered to be part of the category of crimes defined as Crimes Against Persons and it is found within Nevada Title 15 Chapter 200. Our compassionate and knowledgeable legal team has provided representation to many defendants accused of all different types of offenses made illegal under Chapter 200 and our Vegas criminal defense attorneys have the strong understanding of the law necessary to fight for your rights.

To find out how our Nevada defense law firm can assist you in fighting charges related to allegedly abusing, neglecting, or endangering children, give us a call today.

Nevada Revised Statute section 200.508: Rules on Abuse and Neglect of Children

Nevada Revised Statute section 200.508 defines the abuse, neglect, and endangerment of a child. According to the relevant statute, a defendant can be convicted of child abuse, neglect or endangerment for willfully causing a child under the age of 18 to suffer unjustifiable physical pain. A defendant can also be convicted for willfully causing the child to experience unjustifiable mental suffering as a result of abuse or neglect.

In addition to these circumstances, a defendant could also be convicted for causing a child to be placed in a situation where the child experiences physical pain or mental suffering due to abuse or neglect.

Penalties for child abuse vary depending upon whether the child suffers substantial physical or mental harm and vary depending upon the nature of the abuse or neglect. For example, in circumstances where a child is abused and suffers substantial bodily harm as a result of sexual abuse or exploitation, a defendant will be charged with a Category A felony if the child was under the age of 14.

In this particular instance, the defendant could be sentenced to a penalty of life in prison with the possibility of parole after a minimum of 15 years. Other child abuse offenses are less serious, including when abuse occurs by someone with no prior record of similar conduct and does not cause the child to experience substantial bodily harm. This particular offense would be a gross misdemeanor.

An experienced attorney can provide insight into what type of penalties are likely to result from conviction for the child abuse offense you have been accused of committing.