Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor

Contributing to Juvenile Delinquency in Nevada – What You Need to Know

Getting charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor can be an embarrassing and stressful experience. If you are convicted of this offense, you could be subjected to a lengthy jail term and significant monetary penalties.

The seriousness of these charges is why it makes sense to retain top-notch defense counsel right away. Contact Las Vegas defense lawyer Nick Wooldridge and the team of legal professionals at LV Criminal Defense today.

Legal Definition of What Constitutes Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor

Under Nevada law, specifically Nevada Revised Statute Section 201.090, It is a crime for someone to contribute to a child’s delinquent behavior or neglect. Specifically, contributing to a minor’s delinquency is a criminal offense if you allow your child to engage in any of the following activities:

• being habitually truant from school;
• leading an idle, dissolute, lewd, or immoral life;
• conducting him/herself in an indecent or immoral way; or
• breaking the law
• begging on the street or other public area;
• being homeless;
• having no parent or guardian exercising proper parental control;
• being destitute;
• living in a home that is unfit for the child;
• residing in a brothel;
• keeping the company of criminals or vagrants;
• visiting a saloon;
• consuming an excessive amount of alcohol or drugs on a regular basis;
• refusing to obey reasonable orders;

Penalties Associated with Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor

According to Nevada Revised Statute Section 201.110, if you are convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, you could be ordered to serve up to six months in jail and/or pay a monetary fine of up to $1,000.

Defending Against a Charge of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor

The best way to defend against these charges is to retain the services of a skilled and knowledgeable Las Vegas criminal defense attorney. When you hire an attorney, they will go to work reviewing your case, investigating the allegations, and crafting a defense. Below are some common arguments raised in defense of someone facing these charges:

• You were falsely accused by a third party – It is not uncommon for someone to be wrongfully charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor. This often occurs when a married couple is going through a divorce, or a divorced couple has an acrimonious relationship. If you find yourself in this situation, a skilled Las Vegas criminal defense attorney would investigate the situation and compile evidence — such as past communications and recordings — to show that accuser may have had a reason to be dishonest/

• There was in fact no delinquent behavior – It is important to highlight the distinction between so-called “lazy” parenting and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. For example, if you let your child watch television all day, you are not contributing to the child lead some sort of an immoral life. If Las Vegas police may have hastily arrested you on the belief that your behavior violated Nevada Revised Statute 201.110, your defense attorney would gather evidence to show that nothing the defendant did rose to the level of contributory delinquency.
• Your behavior was legally protected – Police may be over-zealous in arresting you because, on the surface, it appears you were contributing to child delinquency but are really just exercising your rights to inflict reasonable punishment. For example, it is legal in Nevada for a parent to punish a child by sending them to their room, not letting them participate in certain activities, or depriving them of a meal. In these situations, a savvy Las Vegas criminal defense attorney would argue that nothing in Nevada Revised Statute 201.110’s text applies to your actions.

Take Action and Contact LV Criminal Defense Today

As you can see, there are in fact viable defenses when charged with contributing to the delinquency of the minor. To get a better idea of your legal options and the best way to fight these charges, contact LV Criminal Defense today to schedule a free, confidential consultation.