How Serious is Child Endangerment Oklahoma?

Okmulgee laws protect the vulnerable, which is why the penalties for child endangerment Oklahoma are so strict.

While being charged with child endangerment Oklahoma is less serious than being charged with physical or sexual abuse of a child, it is still a serious criminal matter.

What is Child Endangerment Oklahoma?

There are a number of laws in Oklahoma that deal with child abuse, neglect, and endangerment. It can sometimes be difficult to differentiate among them.

A parent, guardian, or custodian of a child can be charged with child endangerment Oklahoma when that person knowingly permits physical or sexual abuse of a child, allows the child to be present where controlled dangerous substances are being manufactured, or when the parent allows the child to ride in a motor vehicle when the driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 852.1

If however, the parent reasonably believes that any action to stop any of the actions outlined above would actually result in substantial bodily harm to the child, the person may be exonerated of the charge of child endangerment.

Child endangerment also does not apply in a situation where the parent or other custodial adult in good faith selects and depends upon spiritual means or prayer for the treatment or cure of disease of the child.

If convicted of child endangerment Oklahoma, you may be incarcerated for up to five years and pay a fine of up to $5,000.

What is Child Abuse in Okmulgee?

Child endangerment prohibits the physical and sexual abuse of a child. Under Oklahoma law, both the abuser and the enabler are treated equally.

If a person abuses or enables/permits the abuse to occur, whether that abuse is physical or sexual, the felony is punishable by a maximum of life in prison. Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 843.5

Physical abuse of a child means the willful or malicious harm or threatened harm or failure to protect the child from that harm.

Sexual abuse of a child includes all forms of sexual touching, but it also includes sexual exploitation of the child which can be defined as causing, procuring, or permitting the act of child sexual abuse, including but not limited to rape, incest, and lewd or indecent acts or proposals.

If a parent is engaged in child abuse, it is likely that they will be charged with both abuse and child endangerment Oklahoma.