Just about anyone with functioning reproductive organs can become parents. Making the baby, at least initially, is the easy part (often done with no intention of actually making a baby) but parenting is difficult, infinitely humbling work. Still, being a horrible parent is not necessarily against the law.
Leaving your two toddlers at home alone while you go out on a Friday night (Sun-Times)? Yeah, that's not only uncool but also quite illegal.
One of two children allegedly left home alone by their mother, both between the ages of two and three, was seen by a neighbor crying on an outside deck of an apartment. The neighbor called the police and the mother, 24-year-old Far South Side resident Loran Guzman, was charged with two felony counts of endangering the life and health of a child.
Her alleged neglect of those young children is just one example of bad parenting crossing the line into criminally bad parenting. If you have to ask what's legal and what isn't, then maybe you should seek more general parenting help from friends, family members or community outreach programs.
Regardless, Illinois law makes it pretty clear (Dept. of Children & Family Services) as to what constitutes child abuse, child neglect and related parental liabilities.
Child abuse usually is obvious and must either cause injury or put the child at risk of physical injury and includes sexual abuse. The law also recognizes emotional abuse, which is much more difficult to prove in the absence of bruises. Neglect is present when a parent (or responsible caretaker) "fails to provide adequate supervision, food, clothing, shelter or other basics for a child."
Most reports of suspected abuse or neglect come from so-called mandated reporters, adults who have special access to the child, such as physicians, dentists and school teachers. They're called "mandated" reporters because Illinois law requires them to file a report with DCFS if they have legitimate suspicions.
If convicted of child abuse and/or child neglect, charged as a felony, the parent or guardian usually is sentenced to several months to 10 years in prison, depending on severity and the skill of the particular Il. criminal defense attorney. The child usually ends up in the care of the state.
- Child Abuse Laws State-by-State (FindLaw)
- Prevent Child Abuse, Illinois (PCA)
- Recognizing and Preventing Child Abuse/Neglect (Help Guide)
- Find a Chicago Criminal Defense Attorney (FindLaw)
