What is the difference between PC 273A (a) and 273A (B)?
The difference between PC 273a (a) and 273a (b) is that PC 273a (a) requires the district attorney to prove a child suffered an unjustifiable injury or was likely to suffer great bodily harm. A child does not need to actually suffer great bodily harm, but it is a consideration if the child is actually, in fact, injured.
What are the requirements for PC 273A violation?
For a person to be convicted of a violation of PC 273a (a), the prosecution must prove the following: 1A. You willfully inflicted unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering on a child; 1B. You willfully caused or permitted a child to suffer unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering; 1C.
What are the legal defenses to a 273A charge?
3. Legal defenses to California child endangerment charges Many common legal defenses can be used in Penal Code 273a cases. These include failure to comply with California’s search and seizure laws or any type of police misconduct. But there are also certain defenses that uniquely apply to California child endangerment, abuse and neglect cases.
What is the punishment for child endangerment under PC 273A?
Punishment under PC 273a depends on whether the risk to the child included death or “great bodily injury.” If there was no possibility of either, the offense is a California misdemeanor crime. Penalties for misdemeanor child endangerment can include:
What is the penalty for PC 273A?
What is the additional element that the prosecutor must prove if the defendant is charged with Penal Code 273A?
What is a 4.5 charge?
Can a charge be brought against a minor?

What is a 273a PC charge?
The crime of child endangerment is described under California Penal Code 273a PC as willfully exposing a child to unjustifiable pain, suffering, or danger. You can face criminal charges under this statute if you subject a child to an unreasonable risk of being harmed, even if they are not physically injured.
Is PC 273a B felony?
PC 273a(b) is a misdemeanor offense carrying up to 1 year in the county jail. This conviction is applicable when the child was not placed in a situation likely to cause great bodily injury.
What does 273a B mean?
Child EndangermentChild Endangerment PC 273a(b) (Penal Code § 273a(b)) This charge is filed whenever the safety or well-being of a child is endangered. When parents or guardians of a child are convicted of this crime, the potential consequences may be more serious in that a conviction could jeopardize their child custody rights.
What is 273a A?
Penal Code 273a(a) addresses situations where a person either endangers the safety of a child or inflicts, causes, or permits unjustifiable pain or mental suffering to a child under circumstances likely to cause death or great bodily injury. This is a serious charge with serious consequences.
Can you go to jail for leaving a child home alone in California?
If the court determines that you shouldn't have left your child, child neglect charges will be filed against you. In California, child neglect is a misdemeanor. If found guilty, you could face: Up to a year in jail.
Is it illegal to slap your child in the face in California?
Discipline and Abuse in California Spanking or slapping a child may or may not rise to this level depending on the specific circumstances of the case, but there is no law that states that these actions are automatically illegal.
Is PC 273.6 A felony?
Violating a protective or restraining order under Penal Code Section 273.6 is usually a misdemeanor that is punishable by up to a year in jail, mandatory counseling/domestic abuse classes, and a substantial fine.
What is 245 A 1 PC?
Assault With A Deadly WeaponCalifornia Penal Code [CPC] §245(a)(1) – Assault With A Deadly Weapon – Assault With A Deadly Weapon occurs whenever anyone assaults another person with a deadly weapon, or a weapon other than a firearm, or when anyone assaults another person using force likely to produce great bodily injury.
What happens if you get charged with child endangerment in California?
The Punishment Charged as a misdemeanor, child endangerment can carry up to one year in county jail. Charged as a felony, child endangerment can be punished by two years, four years, or six years in state prison.
Is Penal Code 273a a a strike?
This is a very serious charge. It may even be considered a strike if great bodily injury actually occurred. A felony conviction of Penal Code Section 273a(a) can result in probation for a minimum of 4 years, or two, four or six years in State Prison.
Is 273.5 a PC a felony?
Any person found guilty under PC 273.5 "....is guilty of a felony, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for two, three or four years, or in a county jail for not more than one year, or by a fine of up to six thousand dollars ($6,000) or by both that fine and imprisonment."
What is considered neglect of a child in California?
'Neglect' means negligent treatment or maltreatment of a child, including the failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical treatment, or supervision.
Is child endangerment a felony or misdemeanor in California?
The Punishment Child Endangerment under Penal Code Section 273(a) is a wobbler, meaning that it can be charged as a misdemeanor or a felony. Charged as a misdemeanor, child endangerment can carry up to one year in county jail.
Is PC 273.6 A felony?
Violating a protective or restraining order under Penal Code Section 273.6 is usually a misdemeanor that is punishable by up to a year in jail, mandatory counseling/domestic abuse classes, and a substantial fine.
What is PC 245 A 1 felony?
Assault With A Deadly WeaponCalifornia Penal Code [CPC] §245(a)(1) – Assault With A Deadly Weapon – Assault With A Deadly Weapon occurs whenever anyone assaults another person with a deadly weapon, or a weapon other than a firearm, or when anyone assaults another person using force likely to produce great bodily injury.
Is PC 273.5 A felony?
California Penal Code Section 273.5 "(a) Any person who willfully inflicts upon a person who is his or her spouse, former spouse, cohabitant, former cohabitant, or the mother or father of his or her child, corporal injury resulting in a traumatic condition is guilty of a felony...." See PC 273.5(a).
How does California law define child endangerment?
Child endangerment can be charged when an adult: Causes or permits a minor to suffer unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering, Willfully cau...
What are the penalties for a 273a PC violation?
The penalties, punishment, and sentencing can vary greatly. But they mostly depend on whether the defendant's actions created a risk of "great bodi...
How does one fight the charges in court?
Many common legal defenses can be used in Penal Code 273a cases. These include failure to comply with California's search and seizure laws or any t...
What Is Considered Child Endangerment? | CriminalDefenseLawyer.com
An adult caring for a child has a legal responsibility to ensure that child is free from unreasonably dangerous situations. When an adult caregiver fails to adequately protect a child, states often punish this as a crime known as "child endangerment."
California Penal Code Section 273(a) PC: Child Endangerment
Free Consultation - Former LA Prosecutor and Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney Michael Kraut provides expert advice on California Penal Code Section 273(a) PC: Child Endangerment
California Penal Code Section 273a
Codes Part 1, Of Crimes and Punishments; Title 9, Of Crimes Against the Person Involving Sexual Assault, and Crimes Against Public Decency and Good Morals; Chapter 2, Abandonment and Neglect of Children; Section 273a. Refreshed: 2018-05-15
CA Penal Code 273a - Child Endangerment - LosAngelesDUIAttorney.com
CA Penal Code 273a – Child Endangerment. 273a. (a) Any person who, under circumstances or conditions likely to produce great bodily harm or death, willfully causes or permits any child to suffer, or inflicts thereon unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering, or having the care or custody of any child, willfully causes or permits the person or health of that child to be injured, or ...
Child Endangerment - Definition, Examples, Cases, Processes
The term “child endangerment” is used to describe an act, or the failure to perform an act, that puts a child’s safety in danger. Examples of child endangerment can include any threats to a child’s physical, mental, or emotional wellbeing.
PC 273(a) – Child Endangerment - Esfandi Law Group
The first element of the crime is the most important and often the most used legal defense. In order to be convicted of child endangerment Penal Code 273(a) the act has to be willful, meaning the action must have been performed on purpose.
What is PC 273A?
PC 273a (a): Child abuse, or willful child endangerment, that is likely to cause great bodily injury (GBI), may be charged as a misdemeanor or as a felony. If found guilty of misdemeanor PC 273a (a), the defendant could face up to one year in the county jail. If found guilty of felony PC 237a (a) the defendant could face up to six years in prison.
How long is PC 273A?
Incarceration: Felony PC 273a (a) prison sentence range: 2, 4 or 6 years (if probation not granted). Misdemeanor jail sentence up to 1 year.
Is child endangerment a strike crime in California?
Three Strikes Law: Wilfull child endangerment is not a strike crime under California's Three Stikes Law. Probation Sentence: A probation sentence is a period of supervision instead of an actual jail or prison sentence.
Who is disciplined for child abuse?
Professional Licensing: Licensed professionals, including doctors, lawyers, teachers, nurses, therapists, etc., who are charged with child abuse or willfully endangering the health of a child, may be disciplined by their respective state licensing agencies (Bar, Board, Commission, etc.). Discipline may include suspension or revocation of a professional license, probation, or other punishment.
Is PC 273A a strike offense?
. Strike: PC 273a (a) is not a strike offense listed in California's Three Strikes law. .
What is the difference between PC 273A and 273B?
The difference between PC 273a (a) and 273a (b) is that PC 273a (a) requires the district attorney to prove a child suffered an unjustifiable injury or was likely to suffer great bodily harm. A child does not need to actually suffer great bodily harm, but it is a consideration if the child is actually, in fact, injured. You do not need to purposefully place a child in danger to be charged here. Recklessness alone is all that is required.
What is a 273A?
Legal Definition PC 273a (b): Any person who, under circumstances or conditions other than those likely to produce great bodily harm or death, willfully causes or permits any child to suffer, or inflicts thereon unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering, or having the care or custody of any child, willfully causes or permits the person or health of that child to be injured, or willfully causes or permits that child to be placed in a situation where his or her person or health may be endangered, is guilty of willfully endangering the health of a child.
What is a willfully caused or permitted child?
You willfully caused or permitted a child to suffer unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering; OR. 1C. While having care or custody of a child, you willfully caused or permitted the child’s person or health to be injured;
What does reckless act mean?
1. He or she acts in a reckless way that is a gross departure from the way an ordinarily careful person would act in the same situation;
How long can you go to jail for PC 243?
If you have a previous conviction for a violation of PC 243 (e) (1), then you could be sentenced to State Prison for upwards of two, three, or four years.
Is PC 273A a felony?
The injury is typically a big factor of whether this case gets filed as a misdemeanor or a felony.
Is PC 273A a misdemeanor?
PC 273a (b) is only a misdemeanor offense, where you could be sentenced to County Jail for up to one year while having to attend the same classes as above and possible no-contact orders issued from the Judge.
Understanding Child Endangerment
You can be convicted of child endangerment even if the child was not hurt. It applies to any of the following:
The Difference between Felony Child Endangerment and Misdemeanor Child Endangerment
The two versions of the law are almost identical. The difference is whether the situation was “likely” to endanger the child, or not likely. If it was likely to endanger them, then any rational adult should have avoided it, and failing to do so is a greater crime (a felony).
What is the penalty for PC 273A?
Penalties for misdemeanor child endangerment can include: Up to one (1) year in county jail, and/or.
What is the additional element that the prosecutor must prove if the defendant is charged with Penal Code 273A?
There is one additional element the prosecutor must prove if the defendant is charged with Penal Code 273a as a “wobbler.”
What is a 4.5 charge?
4.5. Charges involving the death of a child
Can a charge be brought against a minor?
Charges can be brought against anyone (not just parents). Usually, the adult is someone who has a minor (a child under 18) in his or her care.
