Florence Child Endangerment Lawyer | Child Safety Allegations

Child endangerment is a crime in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The Florence courts and neighbors in our local community take these allegations very seriously. If you need a Florence child endangerment lawyer to protect your freedoms and your family, call the seasoned criminal defense attorneys at Busald Funk Zevely.

Unlike other Florence criminal law attorneys, our team brings over 50 years of experience to your case. We are proud of our reputation as aggressive, detail-oriented, spirited child endangerment lawyers. We look forward to learning about your unique case and doing our best to protect your family and your reputation.

Child Endangerment Defined

Parents, guardians, and other people legally charged with the care of minors have important responsibilities. They must ensure the children in their care are controlled, and adults must behave responsibly.

Specific Examples of Child Endangerment

Leaving children unattended for a long time may be considered child endangerment. While there is no set number of hours nor a specific age limit for leaving children unattended, if a child is found neglected, or if a juvenile commits a crime while parents are away, a parent might be charged with child endangerment. Child Protective Services (CPS) will likely be involved in these cases.

Involving a minor in criminal activity constitutes child endangerment. For example, directing a child to serve as a lookout during a theft qualifies as endangerment under the law.

Driving recklessly with a child in the vehicle can constitute child endangerment in Florence, depending on the circumstances. A parent who drives under the influence, speeds, or behaves irresponsibly with a minor present faces a strong likelihood of being charged.

In any of these cases, one should hire a highly experienced Florence child endangerment attorney for quality legal representation.

Penalties for Child Endangerment

A child endangerment conviction can have long-term consequences that extend into nearly every aspect of a parent’s life.

Initially, a person convicted of child endangerment will face a fine of up to $1,000 and up to one year of jail time. They may also pay restitution or financial damages to another parent/guardian and complete some community service.

More serious charges, which involve repeat offenses, firearms, or drugs, for example, can lead to more severe penalties, like prison time.

However, a child endangerment charge can lead to more complicated issues in a person’s life.

Long-Term Effects of Child Endangerment Charges

Some parents lose custody of their children, who end up in foster care. Others lose the right to visit their children without supervision. Here in Florence, parents may discover their reputation ruined. They may struggle to find employment if they once made a living in a childcare or educational setting. In the future, their tarnished reputation might make it difficult to find a mate or secure housing, especially if convicted of felony child endangerment.

Call a Florence Child Endangerment Lawyer Today for Help With Your Case

If you need the help of a Florence child endangerment lawyer, call the highly respected team at Busald Funk Zevely now. We have over five decades of experience fighting for parents like you, and we are ready to fight aggressively on your behalf.

Our talented Florence child endangerment attorneys are ready to handle the most difficult and complicated cases. We have plenty of experience in this arena and look forward to protecting your rights and reputation.