Child Neglect Attorney

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Child Neglect Attorney Illinois


Child Neglect Attorney Illinois. If you have been accused of or arrested for child neglect or endangerment in Illinois, speak to an Illinois child neglect attorney right away. The criminal and familial consequences of child neglect can be profound. You have one chance to defend yourself and preserve your rights as an individual and as a family. Turn to the skilled and experienced defense attorneys of Drummond Law in Illinois. Call us now at 800-842-0426 or reach us online now.

Illinois law on criminal child neglect is contained in 720 ILCS 5/12C-5. This statute describes the criminal offenses of child neglect, abandonment and endangerment, as well as the legal consequence of such charges. If you were arrested for child neglect or endangerment in Illinois, Drummond Law’s child neglect attorneys will help you understand the legal situation you face and what your options are for resolving the matter. Read on to learn more about Illinois child neglect charges or speak to an experienced child neglect attorney in Illinois today at 800-842-0426.

Do I need a child neglect attorney in Illinois?

Child neglect allegations can have consequences on your life both through the criminal justice system and family court in Illinois. In addition to the Illinois statute on criminal child negligence, 705 ILCS 405/ describes child abuse and neglect as applicable to Illinois juvenile court. This statute is where the Department of Children and Family Services gets involved. When you are accused of child neglect in Illinois, you could very likely face two separate legal matters: one regarding your criminal punishment and one regarding your rights as a parent and the child’s right to a safe environment.

If you were arrested for child neglect or other changes such as child abuse or child endangerment, you need to speak to a child neglect attorney in Illinois right away. Do not put it off. Whatever the circumstances, a Drummond Law child neglect attorney will fight for your future. We will build a thoughtful, tailored defense to keep your family together and you out of jail or prison. Speak to an experienced and talented Illinois child neglect attorney today at 800-842-0426.

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What is child neglect in Illinois?

A person can be found guilty of child neglect in Illinois if they, as the parent or other adult responsible for a child:

  • fail to provide proper nourishment or medically necessary care;
  • do not meet the child’s basic needs for food, clothing and shelter;
  • put the child in an unsafe environment where the child could be harmed due to the caregiver’s negligence;
  • leave a child under the age of 14 unsupervised for an unreasonable amount of time; or
  • have a newborn infant with controlled substances in their system

The Department of Children and Family Services considers any failure of a parent to meet “minimal parenting” standards for adequate supervision, food, clothing, medical care, shelter or other basic necessities to be child neglect in Illinois. Obviously, “minimal parenting standards” is an unfortunately vague and subjective description. If you have been accused of child neglect or a related act of harming or failing to meet the basic needs of a child for which you are responsible, contact Drummond Law, a leading child neglect defense law firm in Illinois. A Drummond Law child neglect attorney will protect your rights and fight for justice in your Illinois child neglect case from beginning to end.

Child neglect comes in several forms. The US Department of Health and Human Services considers the allegation of neglect to include:

  • Physical: lack of proper supervision, failure to provide adequate food or shelter, etc.
  • Medical: failure to provide necessary medical or mental health treatment or withholding lifesaving medical care from a child suffering from a life-threatening condition
  • Educational: failure to educate the child or meet any special education needs
  • Emotional: exposure to domestic violence or substance use or lack of affection or emotional support

What is child endangerment in Illinois?

Under Illinois law, child endangerment is when someone knowingly:

  • causes or allows the health or life of a child to be threatened, or
  • causes or allows the child to be placed in an environment where the health or life of the child is threatened

Under 720 ILCS 5/12C-5, leaving a child unattended is also illegal. A child is unattended in Illinois if they are not accompanied by someone 14 years or older or if they are out of sight of the person responsible for supervising the child. Additionally, a child six years or younger is unattended if left in a motor vehicle for more than 10 minutes.

When it comes to child endangerment and child neglect charges in Illinois, the courts have to consider factors such as the child’s age, how many children were present, what the child’s basic or special needs are and many other variables. Illinois also considers using or possessing drugs in the presence of a child and driving under the influence with a child in the vehicle acts of endangerment. The challenge is that endangerment of a child does not have to result in actual injury — only in the potential risk. Your Illinois child neglect attorney will fight on your behalf to show that you did not act unlawfully in providing care for a child.

Punishments for Child Neglect and Child Endangerment in Illinois

Most criminal charges related to harming a child, such as abuse and battery, are felonies. However, a first-time criminal charge for child neglect or child endangerment in Illinois is classified as a class A misdemeanor. A class A misdemeanor, the highest possible misdemeanor, carries a possible punishment of up to one year of incarceration and up to $2,500 in fines.

If you are arrested for a second time or any additional times for child neglect or endangerment in Illinois, you will be charged with a class 3 felony. Class 3 felonies carry a punishment of two to five years of incarceration and up to $25,000 in fines.

Hearing the maximum sentences for your charge can be frightening, but that is why it is so urgent that you hire a child neglect attorney in Illinois that you trust. Depending on the circumstances for which you were arrested, your Drummond Law child neglect defense attorney will fervently work to drop the charges, reduce the charges, or negotiate a lighter sentence like probation or substance abuse treatment. If you believe you are innocent, the defense attorneys of Drummond Law are prepared to take your fight to trial to maintain your innocence and beat the case completely.

If you are not facing criminal charges of child neglect or endangerment in Illinois but are under investigation by the DCFS because someone has reported you of neglecting or endangering the welfare of a child for which you are responsible, your Drummond Law child neglect attorney will prove your fitness as a parent or guardian and fight to keep your family together.

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How can a child neglect attorney in Illinois help me?

If you have been arrested for criminal child neglect or endangerment or have been indicated for child neglect or endangerment by the DCFS, you need a trustworthy and experienced defense attorney on your side. Drummond Law’s Illinois child neglect attorneys know what defenses work in cases like yours and have the resources and expertise necessary to build an infallible case.

Your Illinois child neglect attorney may introduce reasonable doubt by offering other explanations for the evidence presented by the prosecution, providing perspective for the situation or correcting the prosecution’s assumption regarding the severity of the situation. If you were wrongfully accused, the Drummond Law defense team will set the record straight and show the court the truth through the evidence we have gathered. If you have been indicated by the DCFS, your child neglect attorney will help you appeal the DCFS findings. Wherever you are in your Illinois child neglect legal battle, Drummond Law is your advocate and your shield.

Hire a Child Neglect Attorney in Illinois

Child neglect or endangerment allegations are serious and can have permanent consequences on your life and your child’s life if you do not take action. It is paramount that you protect your rights and fight for justice from the moment you learn of these allegations against you. Begin by hiring a reputable and talented Illinois child neglect attorney who will lead the fight.

Drummond Law is a leading Illinois defense firm specializing in child neglect cases. Discuss your child neglect case with a knowledgeable child neglect attorney with Drummond Law today by calling us at 800-842-0426 or contacting us online now.

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