Contact Us for a Free Consultation (213) 542-0979

Delinquency Of A Minor

California Penal Code 272 PC – Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor

I do see a lot, over the course of the last twenty-five years, contributing to the delinquency of a minor cases that are prosecuted under Penal Code Section 272. There are number of different examples that can be utilized to spell out what it takes to get this type of a charge. But basically, it is an adult who has care and custody of a minor who's doing something or supplying the minor with something or failing to do something regarding the minor, that contributes to the minor becoming in a delinquent status – or a status where the minor is not acting appropriately in society.

Examples could be providing alcohol or cigarettes to a minor. They could include not cooperating with the minor going to school or the minor being habitually truant. The could include also neglecting the minor – not providing clothes, food, not taking care of the minor.

Basically, what the policy behind this contributing to the delinquency of a minor California Penal Code Section 272 has to do with adults not doing what they're supposed to when they have the primary responsibility for a minor or causing the minor to do something immoral or even illegal because the adult is not handling things appropriately with a minor.

Prosecutors and judges hate these charges and they will come down like a ton of bricks on the adult who is not doing what they're supposed to or how it's influencing a minor in the wrong way. So, if you're charged with this charge, you should take it seriously.

The prosecutors are going to be looking to do two things. One, to protect whatever minor is involved, and two, to protect society from somebody who is doing things that impact minors in a negative way.

Legal Defenses for Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor

A defense to this crime would obviously be that there's no proof or evidence that you did anything wrong in relation to the minor. Maybe the minor is operating on their own – of their own accord – and you don't really have any control over the minor to be able to interject.

So, what the prosecutors will need is witnesses and evidence in order to prove this charge and obviously, if the facts and circumstances based on the totality of everything shows that you did not do anything that would contribute to the delinquency of the minor in question, then you shouldn't be charged with this crime and the case should be dismissed.

If on the other hand, there are witnesses and evidence that you did contribute to a minor getting in a very bad position or doing something illegal or immoral, then you're going to need to do some damage control and hire an attorney who can get in there and give your version of events.

Really what I think is the most important thing is the courts and prosecutors are going to look at the best interests of the child in this particular type of case and if we can come up with a game plan that shows that you're serious about this not happening again and showing moving forward what you're going to do so this minor is not in a bad position, then number one – you'll be able to minimize the damage that can occur in a criminal case; and number two – you may be ale to keep custody or guardianship of the child in question.

So, your best strategy in these contributing to a delinquency of a minor cases that are prosecuted pursuant to Penal Code Section 272 is to get in front of an attorney, give him all the details, the facts, don't omit anything – let the attorney come up with a game plan that makes sense for your circumstances.

Not all circumstances are the same and not all cases should be defended the same way. It's going to depend on your circumstances, your life, your background, your job situation and your connection with the minor and maybe there are some good things that you've done for the minor that are not being taken into consideration by the judge and prosecutor, and your attorney needs to be the one that gets those in front of the judge and prosecutor in order to protect your rights, your freedom, your reputation and everything that's important to you, especially if you're in a family situation with the subject minor.

Menu