Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 1102 – Endangering the welfare of a child; class A misdemeanor; class E or G …
(a) A person is guilty of endangering the welfare of a child when:
(1) Being a parent, guardian or any other person who has assumed responsibility for the care or supervision of a child the person:
a. Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly acts in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical, mental or moral welfare of the child; or
b. Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly does or fails to do any act, including failing to report a missing child, with the result that the child becomes a neglected or abused child; or
(2) The person knowingly contributes to the delinquency of any child less than 18 years old by doing or failing to do any act with the result, alone or in conjunction with other acts or circumstances, that the child becomes a delinquent child; or
(3) The person knowingly encourages, aids, abets or conspires with the child to run away from the home of the child’s parents, guardian or custodian; or the person knowingly and illegally harbors a child who has run away from home; or
(4) The person commits any violent felony, or reckless endangering second degree, assault third degree, terroristic threatening, unlawful imprisonment second degree, or child abuse third degree against a victim, knowing that such felony or misdemeanor was witnessed, either by sight or sound, by a child less than 18 years of age who is a member of the person’s family or the victim’s family; or
(5) The person commits the offense of driving under the influence as set forth in § 4177 of Title 21, or the offense of operating a vessel or boat under the influence as set forth in § 2302 of Title 23, and during the commission of the offense knowingly permits a child less than 18 years of age to be a passenger in or on such vehicle, vessel or boat; or
(6) The person commits any offense set forth in Chapter 47 of Title 16 in any dwelling, knowing that any child less than 18 years of age is present in the dwelling at the time; or
(7) The person provides or permits a child to consume or inhale any substance not prescribed to the child by a physician, as defined in §§ 4714, 4716, 4718, 4720, and 4722 of Title 16.
Attorney's Note
Under the Delaware Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class E felony | up to 5 years | |
| Class G felony | up to 2 years | |
| Class A misdemeanor | up to 1 year | up to $2,300 |
Terms Used In Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 1102
- Abuse: means causing any physical injury to a child through unjustified force as defined in § 468(1)(c) of this title, torture, negligent treatment, sexual abuse, exploitation, maltreatment, mistreatment or any means other than accident. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 1100
- Child: shall mean any individual less than 18 years of age. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 1100
- Delinquent child: means a child who commits an act which if committed by an adult would constitute a crime. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 1100
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- Serious physical injury: shall mean physical injury which creates a risk of death, or which causes disfigurement, impairment of health or loss or impairment of the function of any bodily organ or limb, or which causes the unlawful termination of a pregnancy without the consent of the pregnant female. See Delaware Code Title 11 Sec. 1100
- State: means the State of Delaware; and when applied to different parts of the United States, it includes the District of Columbia and the several territories and possessions of the United States. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
(b) Endangering the welfare of a child shall be punished as follows:
(1) When the death of a child occurs while the child’s welfare was endangered as defined in subsection (a) of this section, endangering the welfare of a child is a class E felony;
(2) When serious physical injury to a child occurs while the child’s welfare was endangered as defined in subsection (a) of this section, endangering the welfare of a child is a class G felony;
(3) When a child becomes the victim of a sexual offense as defined in § 761(i) of this title while the child’s welfare was endangered as defined in subsection (a) of this section, endangering the welfare of a child is a class G felony;
(4) In all other cases, endangering the welfare of a child is a class A misdemeanor.
(c) For the purpose of imposing the penalties prescribed in paragraph (b)(1), (b)(2) or (b)(3) of this section, it is not necessary to prove the person’s state of mind or liability for causation with regard to the resulting death of or physical injury to the child or sexual offense against the child, notwithstanding the provisions of § 251, § 252, § 261, § 262, § 263 or § 264 of this title, or any other statutes to the contrary.
11 Del. C. 1953, § ?1102; 58 Del. Laws, c. 497, § ?1; 61 Del. Laws, c. 334, § ?6; 67 Del. Laws, c. 130, § ?8; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § ?1; 70 Del. Laws, c. 451, §§ ?1, 2; 71 Del. Laws, c. 424, § ?3; 73 Del. Laws, c. 208, §§ ?1, 2, 3; 77 Del. Laws, c. 34, § ?1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 242, § ?1; 78 Del. Laws, c. 406, § ?2; 80 Del. Laws, c. 175, § ?6; 81 Del. Laws, c. 79, § 9; 82 Del. Laws, c. 150, § 1;