Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline: 1-800-522-3511
Child Abuse Resources If you suspect that a child is the victim of abuse, neglect or exploitation, please contact your Local County Office during regular business hours (8-5). After regular business hours, call the Statewide Abuse Hotline: 1-800-522-3511. Penalties for Child Neglect in Oklahoma The following are excerpts from the Oklahoma Statutes that outline the possible punishment associated with a child neglect conviction in Oklahoma:
Tit. 21, § 843.5: C. Any parent or other person who shall willfully or maliciously engage in child neglect shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections not exceeding life imprisonment, or by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one (1) year, or by a fine of not less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) nor more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or both such fine and imprisonment. As used in this subsection, "child neglect" means the willful or malicious neglect, as defined by paragraph 3 of subsection B of Section 7102 of this title, of a child under eighteen (18) years of age by another. D. Any parent or other person who shall willfully or maliciously engage in enabling child neglect shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections not exceeding life imprisonment, or by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one (1) year, or by a fine of not less than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) nor more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or both such fine and imprisonment. As used in this subsection, "enabling child neglect" means the causing, procuring or permitting of a willful or malicious act of child neglect, as defined by paragraph 3 of subsection B of Section 7102 of this title, of a child under eighteen (18) years of age by another. As used in this subsection, "permit" means to authorize or allow for the care of a child by an individual when the person authorizing or allowing such care knows or reasonably should know that the child will be placed at risk of neglect as proscribed by this subsection. The Oklahoma statutes define child neglect as follows:
"Neglect" means a willful failure or omission to provide the following for a child:
adequate nurturance and affection, food, clothing, shelter, sanitation, hygiene, or appropriate education, medical, dental, or behavioral health care, supervision or appropriate caretakers, or special care made necessary by the physical or mental condition of the child, the failure or omission to protect a child from exposure to any of the following: the use, possession, sale, or manufacture of illegal drugs, illegal activities, or sexual acts or materials that are not age-appropriate, or abandonment. The law considers anyone under the age of 18 a child. A Defendant can also be charged with the crime of enabling child neglect. Both Child neglect and enabling child neglect are charged as felonies in Oklahoma, which means a conviction may potentially impact the remainder of the Defendant’s life. Child Sexual Abuse Charges in Oklahoma Child sexual abuse in Oklahoma encompasses situations where a child is improperly touched in a sexually explicit manner. Child sexual abuse is similar to other child abuse-related charges, in that one can also be charged with enabling child sexual abuse. Child sexual abuse is likewise also charged as a felony. As such, if convicted, a Defendant could potentially face up to life in prison. Furthermore, allegations of child sexual abuse carry a great amount of social stigma.
If you suspect child abuse |