Mecklenburg County Risk of Injury to a Minor Lawyer

Children are precious and should be treated as such. However, the law may be harsh if a child is placed at risk in a seemingly harmless situation such as leaving a child in a car unattended for even a short while. If you have been charged with endangering a minor, contact a Mecklenburg County risk of injury to a minor lawyer to start building your defense today. A seasoned domestic violence lawyer may be able to help you fight charges and advocate for you.

What is Risk of Injury to a Minor?

Many behaviors can lead to the charge of risk of injury to a minor, including something as simple as driving too fast in the car with a child present. Other behaviors could include a lack of supervision in a dangerous place, leaving a child unattended in a car,or leaving the child in the care of somebody who may be unsafe or irresponsible for taking care of the child.

Often, a claim of risk of injury to a minor is alleged after law enforcement has observed the child without a parent being present, or with a parent acting negligently or inattentively. These charges may also be leveled if a child is found unattended by other civilians or a child is present during the commission of a crime.

If someone has been arrested for child endangerment in Mecklenburg County, they will be brought before a judge who will determine whether that person can be released on bond or not. After that determination, the Department of Social Services will be involved to investigate whether the parent should be allowed to retain custody of their child pending the charges in court. A Mecklenburg County risk of injury to a minor lawyer could serve as a guide for the defendant through these investigation and trial processes.

Felony vs. Misdemeanor Risk of Injury to a Minor Charges

When there is just a general risk to a minor or an accusation that a minor has been neglected or left unattended, that might lead to a misdemeanor charge. However, when there is a risk of serious injury to the child or life-threatening harm seems eminent, it will be charged as a felony.

Risk-of-injury cases that do not involve sexual conduct or contact carry less severe consequences, even when charged as a felony. Non-sexual felony risk of injury to a minor charges have a maximum penalty of ten years in prison. However, when sexual conduct is involved, penalties are greatly increased including a possible mandatory minimum life sentence. The full consequences of the sexual child-abuse case depend on what is alleged to have taken place.

Call a Mecklenburg County Risk of Injury to a Minor Attorney

Cases involving a risk of injury to a minor in Mecklenburg County are often a misdemeanor which would be heard and by a judge in the Juvenile Domestic Relations sister court. If the charge is a felony, a probable-cause determination in most instances will be made by a judge in the Juvenile Domestic Relations District Court and the trial will be decided by a judge or a jury in the circuit court. If someone is accused of leaving a child in a car, more often than not they will only be charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor, which stipulates that children must be supervised.

If you have been charged with endangering a child, you may need to contact a Mecklenburg County risk of injury to a minor lawyer. Call today to start working on your case.