Long Island Child Abuse Defense Attorneys

What is Considered Abusing a Child in NY?

In New York, child abuse is defined as an injury that isn’t accidental and causes physical or emotional impairment, disfigurement, or death. Neglect means failing to care for a child, which leads to injury or sexual abuse, creating a serious risk of injury, or allowing sexual criminal behavior.

In addition to permanent loss of child custody through the family courts, child abuse can also lead to serious criminal penalties such as jail or prison time, fines, a criminal record, and perhaps registration as a sex offender.

The following are the most common types of child abuse offenses in New York and the associated penalties:

• Child endangerment – Committing intentional acts in a manner that leads to physical or mental injury suffered by a child is a Class A misdemeanor, which carries a maximum jail sentence of 364 days and a fine no more than $1,000.
• Sexual conduct against a child in the second degree – Within a three-month period, engaging in at least two acts of sexual conduct with a minor younger than 11 years old or, if you are at least 18, engaging in at least two acts of sexual conduct with a minor younger than 13 years old is a Class D felony, punishable by a imprisonment of up to seven years.
• Sexual conduct against a child in the first degree – The requirements for this sex crime are the same as sexual conduct against a child in the second degree; however, at least one of the sex acts must be either sexual intercourse, anal sex, oral sex, or aggravated sexual conduct. Sexual conduct against a child in the first degree is a Class B felony that carries a maximum prison term of 25 years.

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If you have been accused of abusing or neglecting one or more of your children, and you have to appear in either Suffolk County or Nassau Court Family Court, you must act immediately to hire an experienced family law attorney to protect you. At Laurence Silverman & Associates, our legal team has over 50 years of experience representing parents in family court abuse and neglect cases.

A bad outcome in an Abuse or Neglect case can result if the permanent loss of parental rights and other bad outcomes. Only an experienced attorney can prevent the bad outcome by making sure that your side of the story can be expertly presented. You cannot trust that your side will be heard properly without your attorney at your side.

Some important things to consider are:

1. The nature and proof of the allegations against you
2. Participation in some form of therapeutic program
3. Your current living arrangements

If you have to go to Family Court in Suffolk County or Nassau County because of a Child Abuse or Neglect case, you should let Laurence Silverman & Associates protect your rights and future right immediately and have us guide you through the court process each and every step of the way. Don’t be fooled into thinking that the system will be fair to you and that you can do this on your own.

Contact us now to make an appointment and to get our Long Island child abuse defense lawyers on your side. Our frees are reasonable and affordable, and we provide effective and personalized legal solutions to all our clients.