Tampa Child Abuse & Neglect Attorney

All crimes in Florida carry harsh penalties but those consequences become even greater when the victim is a minor child. This means that sexually abusing a ten-year-old will be punished more severely than sexually abusing someone who is 20 years old. If you are being accused of a crime against a minor, you need sound legal advice. If you are convicted, you may face jail time, high fines, and will likely lose time with your child. Below, our Tampa child abuse and neglect attorney outlines the most common crimes, and how you can obtain the legal advice you need.

Child Abuse and Child Neglect

Child abuse and child neglect are two different offenses, and they both have varying degrees. Simple child abuse is a third degree felony and if you are convicted, you will face up to five years in prison if the child did not suffer serious injury. Aggravated child abuse, on the other hand, is much more serious and is classified as a first degree felony. Aggravated child abuse is punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Simple child abuse can involve intentionally inflicting a physical or mental injury on the child, while aggravated child abuse can involve maliciously punishing a child or forcibly restraining them.

It is very challenging to defend against child abuse and neglect. Your actions and words will be taken out of context in court and used against you. Florida law also requires everyone to report any suspected child abuse. As such, if you believe your former spouse is abusing your child, you have a legal obligation to report it.

Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor

When adults behave in a way that is illegal while in the presence of a minor child, the law views this as encouraging the child to break the law. As such, this type of behavior is classified as contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Common examples of contributing to the delinquency of a minor include allowing a child to stay home from school when they are not sick, thereby committing truancy, and allowing an underage child to consume alcohol.

Abandoning a Child in a Hot Car

Under Florida law, it is illegal to leave a child younger than the age of six in a vehicle for more than 15 minutes. If the child’s health is in danger, they are in distress, or the vehicle is left running, it is against the law to leave a child in a vehicle for any amount of time.

Our Child Abuse and Neglect Attorney in Tampa Can Help with Your Case

Whether you need to report abuse and neglect or defend against accusations, you need legal help. At Florida Law Advisers, P.A., our Tampa child abuse and neglect attorney offers legal advice and can help you report or defend against these offenses. Call us now at 1 (800) 990-7763 or contact us online to schedule a consultation and to get the sound legal advice you need.