Legal Definitions - felony injury to a child

Felony Injury to a Child is a serious criminal offense that occurs when an individual intentionally causes severe physical harm, significant bodily injury, or extreme mental suffering to a child. It also applies when someone knowingly places a child in, or allows a child to remain in, a situation where there is a high probability of the child suffering grave physical injury, permanent disfigurement, or death.

Here are some examples to illustrate this legal term:

• Example 1: A babysitter, frustrated by a crying infant, violently shakes the baby, resulting in a skull fracture and brain damage that requires emergency surgery.

  Explanation: This scenario directly illustrates intentionally causing "severe physical harm" and "significant bodily injury" to a child through a deliberate act of violence, leading to life-threatening consequences.

• Example 2: A parent addicted to drugs frequently leaves their young child alone for extended periods in a squalid apartment without food, clean water, or proper supervision. As a result, the child becomes severely malnourished, dehydrated, and develops a life-threatening infection due to the unsanitary conditions.

  Explanation: This demonstrates "allowing a child to remain in a situation where there is a high probability of the child suffering grave physical injury" (malnutrition, dehydration, infection) due to severe neglect and the creation of a dangerous environment.

• Example 3: A stepparent subjects a child to months of relentless psychological torment, including constant threats of physical harm, deliberate humiliation in front of others, and isolation from family members. This prolonged abuse causes the child to develop severe post-traumatic stress disorder, requiring extensive psychiatric treatment and long-term therapy.

  Explanation: This illustrates intentionally causing "extreme mental suffering" to a child through sustained emotional abuse, leading to profound and lasting psychological harm that significantly impacts the child's well-being and development.