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Criminal Defense Lawyer in Orlando, FL

Child Abuse Lawyer

Children are the future, and crimes against them are prosecuted aggressively in the United States. Florida is no exception, and situations that involve the potential harm of a minor can lead to severe, life-long consequences. If you’ve been accused of child abuse, contact the experienced legal team at Hanlon Law today to schedule a free consultation. 


What is Child Abuse?


Child abuse is, ostensibly, any abuse that is committed against a child. Florida Statute 827.03 covers two kinds of child abuse: abuse and neglect. 


Child abuse is defined as an intentional action that causes physical or mental harm to a child. The law described it as one of three things:


  • The intentional infliction of physical or mental injury on a child
  • An intentional act that could reasonably be expected to result in mental of physical injury to a child
  • The active encouragement of any person to commit either of the above


Certain extenuating circumstances can lead to a situation graduating from child abuse to aggravated child abuse. Aggravated child abuse occurs when: 


  • The abuse committed against the child would be aggravated battery if committed against an adult
  • The abuse involved the willful torture, malicious punishment, or unlawful caging of a child
  • The abuse causes great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement to the child


Child neglect, on the other hand, involves inaction instead of action. The law describes it as: 


  • The failure or omission of a caregiver to provide the care, supervision, and/or services necessary to maintain the child’s physical and mental health (food, nutrition, clothing, shelter, supervision, medicine, medical services, etc) 
  • The failure or omission of a caregiver to make reasonable efforts to protect a child from abuse, neglect, or exploitation by another person


What Are the Consequences of Child Abuse? 


As crimes against children are considered especially heinous, the consequences of such crimes are subsequently severe. 


Both child abuse and child neglect are considered third-degree felonies, punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $5,000 fine. As these charges are felonies, you will also see consequences of life as a felon, which can involve difficulty obtaining employment, housing, etc, and the loss or restriction of certain rights, such as the right to vote or bear arms.


Child neglect that causes great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement to the child in question is upgraded from a third-degree felony to a second-degree felony. As such, it is punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. 


Aggravated child abuse is the most severe form, and is charged as a first-degree felony, punishable by up to 30 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.


As with all crimes, the sentencing for child abuse charges may be even more severe if you have previous offenses, or if certain aggravating factors (such as the presence or discharge of a firearm, death, etc) are present.


Lakeland Criminal Defense Lawyers 


Child abuse is a serious charge, and should be taken seriously. Even if you believe the situation to be a clear, silly misunderstanding, you shouldn’t take the chance. It’s always in your best interest to retain an experienced child abuse defense lawyer as soon as possible. 


At Hanlon Law, our founder, Will Hanlon, has been defending the accused for nearly two decades. Our legal team will work tirelessly both in and out of the courtroom to advocate on your behalf, and will do everything in our power to help you secure the best possible outcome. If you’ve been charged with child abuse, or suspect you may be under investigation, don’t wait. Contact Hanlon Law today to schedule a free consultation today.

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