PC 270: Child Neglect Laws

Legal Definition: If a parent of a minor child willfully omits, without lawful excuse, to furnish necessary clothing, food, shelter or medical attendance, or other remedial care for his or her child… a person is the parent of a minor child and the person has notice of such adjudication and he or she then willfully omits, without lawful excuse, to furnish necessary clothing, food, shelter, medical attendance or other remedial care for his or her child, this conduct is punishable by imprisonment in the county jail… This statute shall not be construed so as to relieve such parent from the criminal liability defined herein for such omission merely because the other parent of such child is legally entitled to the custody of such child nor because the other parent of such child or any other person or organization voluntarily or involuntarily furnishes such necessary food, clothing, shelter or medical attendance or other remedial care for such child or undertakes to do so.

For a person to be convicted of a violation of PC 270, the prosecution must show that:

1. You are the parent of the child or children;
2. The child or children were minors;
3. You failed to provide necessities for the child or children; AND
4. The failure to provide was willful and without lawful excuse.

What does this mean?

Someone commits an act willfully when he or she does it willingly or on purpose. Necessities are necessary clothing, food, shelter, and medical care, or other remedial care for a minor child. Other remedial care includes spiritual treatment through prayer alone in accordance with the tenets and practices of a recognized church or religious denomination and by one of its duly accredited practitioners. A parent must provide necessities for a minor child even if he or she never married or is divorced from the child’s other parent. This duty also exists regardless of any court order for alimony or child support in a divorce action.

Here, a parent includes all adoptive parents and others who hold themselves out as parents. It also includes the husband of any woman who gives birth to a baby while the husband is living with her. Neglect can be committed by a parent who rarely or never has contact with the child, and is not even in the child’s life.

A parent must do all that is reasonable in order to provide necessities for minor children. A parent has a lawful excuse for failing to do so if, through no fault of his or her own, he or she is unable to earn enough money and does not have other income or assets to pay for those necessities. It is not a lawful excuse if the parent is unable to provide necessities because he or she has unreasonably chosen to spend money on other things or has failed to diligently seek work. This second part here is a catch-all for parents who may been on rough times and are homeless and unable to provide for themselves, let alone their child. However, it all depends on what the money is being spent on, which justified the child not having any necessities.

Penalties

Child Neglect, also known as Failure to Provide, is a wobbler offense in California. This means you can be charged with this crime as a misdemeanor or as a felony offense. If you are convicted of this charge as a misdemeanor, you can be sentenced to County Jail for up to one year. If you are convicted of this charge as a felony, you can be sentenced to State Prison for one year and one day. You would have to serve 50% of that time in County Jail or State Prison. You would also be subjected to a fine of up to $2,000, as well as possible Dependency Court Orders from the Department of Child Services, and even a Criminal Protective Order. This would mean that not only would the State take your child away from you, but they could also add orders so you cannot even have contact with your minor child. You would also generally be required to attend a year-long Parenting class, as well as counseling courses.

PC 270 is not a strike offense under the Three Strikes Law, and it is also not a charge requiring Sex Registration under PC 290. If you are convicted of PC 270, you could likely face a loss, suspension, or revocation of your professional license. You could also face immigration consequences if you are a non-US Citizen living in the United States.

Common Defenses

1. Statute of Limitations
2. Insufficient Evidence
3. Violation of Rights

To find insufficient evidence for the charge of Child Neglect is to attack the elements. This can be of course shown if you are not the parent of the minor child, or, you did not act willfully. As shown in the example above, failing to provide necessities is overcome if you are able to show that you don’t have necessities for yourself, and you are not wasting the funds you do have on things such as drugs, or booze. This does not mean that a parent is held hostage to only care for their minor child above any of their own needs, this generally is a more obvious showing of a clear deficiency for the minor child that the parent could easily fix but fails to do so.

Another way to attack this charge under this section is to show that you as the parent were not aware that the minor child needed medical assistance. This could be shown by the signs of whatever illness the child has not been apparent or known to the parent or child. Or the child failing to advise their parent of whatever medical problems they are feeling, that they are ill, or that they need assistance. This helps protect parents from being forced into being mind readers for something they could not possibly know. Another possibility is the failure to treat the child based on prayer or religion, so long as the minor does not get very ill or dies, then you can be charged with much worse crimes.

Call Today

A charge under PC 270 is not just a legal challenge; it’s a personal crisis that threatens to dismantle your family. Beyond the looming shadow of jail time, the potential loss of your child represents an unbearable consequence. The intricacies of Dependency Court and the process of reunification services underscore the gravity of these charges. The path to regaining custody or even visitation rights can be painstakingly slow and emotionally draining.

Why Choose Inland Empire Criminal Defense?

At Inland Empire Criminal Defense, our Ontario attorney specializing in PC 270 understands the profound stakes at play when facing child neglect charges. Our track record in successfully defending these sensitive cases reflects our deep commitment to preserving families and protecting the rights of the accused.

Our Approach to Your Defense:

• Expertise in Child Neglect Defense: We bring specialized knowledge in handling charges under PC 270, ensuring a defense strategy informed by an understanding of both criminal and dependency court proceedings.
• Commitment to Family Reunification: Recognizing the ultimate goal of keeping families intact, our defense strategies are designed to address both the immediate legal challenges and the broader goal of family preservation.
• Personalized Legal Support: We understand the emotional toll of these cases and offer compassionate, comprehensive legal support every step of the way.

The Critical Role of Skilled Legal Representation

Facing child neglect charges requires more than just legal defense; it demands an advocate who grasps the full spectrum of consequences and is dedicated to fighting for your family’s future.

Secure Your Family’s Future with Expert Legal Help

If you or a loved one is charged under PC 270, don’t navigate this crisis alone. Contact Inland Empire Criminal Defense for a free initial consultation and round-the-clock support. Our commitment is to your defense and family’s well-being. Reach out today at 909-939-7126 and let our Ontario-based legal team provide the representation you deserve.