Depending on the state, a person charged with criminal child abandonment faces a wide range of penalties and sentencing
options, depending on whether the state makes it a felony or misdemeanor. A cour t will take the factors listed above
into consideration - but the penalties may include fines, ter mination of parental rights, super vised access to the child, and
jail time.
In addition, a person may face reckless abandonment charges of a greater penalty if a child dies as a result of the abandonment.
For a discussion of child abuse defenses, click here :
If you are facing child abandonment charges, it is usually best to wor k with a cr iminal defense lawyer in your area to
reduce or lessen the severity of penalties in all cases involving child abuse.