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If someone accuses you of child abuse, it can feel devastating. Your freedom, parental rights, and reputation are at risk. If you need support defending yourself against criminal charges for child abuse or neglect, an experienced Boulder child abuse lawyer could help you.
Petrash Law has handled child abuse charges of many kinds. Some cases involve genuine abuse, but others arise from misunderstandings, false accusations, or mishandled interventions from child protective services (CPS). These domestic violence-based charges carry severe criminal penalties that could result in permanently losing the right to parent your children.
The state defines child abuse as any act or omission threatening a child’s health or welfare, which encompasses a wide range of conduct that threatens the health, safety, or welfare of children. This includes physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, as well as neglect. The specific charges and penalties depend on the nature of the alleged abuse and the extent of any injuries.
State child abuse charges vary from misdemeanors to serious felonies. Penalties range from eight to 24 years in jail for abuse resulting in death—a Class 2 felony—to four to 16 years for great bodily injury, which is a Class 3 felony.
Abuse without injury, but showing indifference or recklessness, typically constitutes a Class 1 misdemeanor. Less severe instances of knowing or reckless conduct may constitute a Class 2 misdemeanor. Child sexual abuse charges carry separate, more severe penalties. An experienced attorney in Boulder could explain child abuse and neglect charges and help develop your defense strategy.
When law enforcement charges you with criminal child abuse, CPS typically initiates dependency and neglect proceedings in juvenile court. These civil cases determine whether to remove your children from your custody, and what programs you must complete before they can return home. While the burden of proof in a dependency case is lower than in criminal cases, the consequences are equally severe.
Dependency proceedings can result in the temporary or permanent termination of your parental rights. Even if the court acquits you of criminal charges, you may lose your parental rights in dependency court if CPS persuades a judge that your children are unsafe in your care.
Defending both criminal charges and dependency proceedings requires a coordinated strategy. A defense attorney in Boulder could defend you against child cruelty charges in criminal court while simultaneously protecting your parental rights in juvenile court. Petrash Law handles both criminal defense and dependency representation, ensuring a consistent strategy across both proceedings.
If the court removes your children from your custody, CPS will develop a treatment plan that you must complete to have your children returned. This typically includes:
We advocate for reasonable treatment plans and support you to complete requirements promptly so that your children can return home.
Child abuse investigations begin as soon as someone makes allegations against you. Police and CPS workers conduct interviews, collect medical evidence, and document observations to build a case against you right away.
Investigators can use everything you say in both criminal and dependency proceedings. You need a dedicated defense lawyer as soon as you learn about accusations that you mistreated your children, and an attorney in Boulder from Petrash Law is ready to support you.
A Boulder child abuse lawyer could advise you on interacting with investigators, help you to protect your rights, and begin building your defense immediately. When accusations threaten your freedom and your family, Petrash Law provides the experienced, compassionate representation you need to fight such charges. Call today to schedule a consultation with an attorney.