Norwalk Risk of Injury to a Minor Lawyer

Norwalk Connecticut police try to act with extreme diligence when it comes to protecting the health and welfare of children. When they fear a child could be at risk of danger, they often make arrests for felony risk of injury to a minor, also called child endangerment.

This extremely serious crime actually refers to two different offenses, one involving general conditions that could pose a danger to the health or morals of a child (called situation risk of injury) and the second concerning inappropriate sexual contact with a minor child.

Anyone arrested in Norwalk Connecticut for Risk of Injury under CGS 53-21 needs to be aware of the risks associated with such an arrest and should consult with a Norwalk risk of injury lawyer to a minor lawyer as soon as possible. An experienced domestic violence attorney can help you begin working toward the best possible outcome for your future.

Situational Risk of Injury Arrests

Laws concerning child endangerment/risk of injury are set forth in Connecticut General Statute § 53-21(a). The first provision under this section is the broadest and can be applied to a wide range of circumstances.

The Norwalk risk of injury to a minor law makes it a felony offense to place a minor under the age of 16 in a situation which puts the child’s life in danger or makes it likely that the child’s physical health, mental health or morals could be harmed.

Applicable Norwalk Risk of Injury to a Minor Laws

This situational risk of injury provision covers a number of different scenarios, making it easy for the state to fit almost any situation into this category. Some instances seen by Norwalk risk of injury to a minor lawyers where adults have faced risk of injury charges include:

  • Committing a non-violent crime such as shoplifting while accompanied by a minor
  • Driving drunk with a child in the car
  • Leaving a child without adequate supervision in a car while running into a store or grab coffee
  • Allowing a child to see a sexually explicit image or pornographic film
  • Using discipline that others may find excessive and leaves a mark or bruise on the child

In order to protect children, and in an abundance of caution law enforcement personnel are often likely to make arrests rather than issue warnings, even if the evidence is slim.

What is an Arrest for Contact with Intimate Parts?

The second provision frequently charged in risk of injury cases involve sexual contact between an adult and the intimate parts of a minor under the age of 16. Essentially, the law prohibits contact with any intimate body parts of a minor or from placing the minor in contact with the intimate body parts of an adult if the contact is made in a “sexual and indecent manner” and is considered likely to corrupt the morals of the minor or injure the health of the minor.

Penalties for Risk of Injury Arrests

Both subdivisions of Risk of Injury CGS § 53-21 are serious felonies. The general risk of injury provisions are treated as a Class C felony. This means that a conviction carries a potential penalty of up to ten years of incarceration as well as a fine of up to $10,000.

Those convicted of violating the sexual contact provision face even stiffer penalties, including up to 20 years of imprisonment and a fine as high as $15,000, plus sex offender registration requirements. In addition, cases involving risk of injury often trigger an invasive investigation by the Department of Children and Families.

Talking to a Norwalk Risk of Injury Attorney

The stakes are quite high when it comes to Norwalk Connecticut arrests for risk of injury/child endangerment. A criminal attorney can help you fight Connecticut Risk of Injury arrests, dig deep into the accuser and their medical and psychological records, and try to get you the best result possible for your case. If you have been charged with this offense, contact a Norwalk risk of injury to a minor lawyer to get started now.

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