Sec. 12C-5. Endangering the life or health of a child.

262 words·~1 min read·/il/chapter-720/act-5/12c-5-2

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(a)A person commits endangering the life or health of a child when he or she knowingly:

(1)causes or permits the life or health of a child under the age of 18 to be endangered; or

(2)causes or permits a child to be placed in circumstances that endanger the child's life or health. It is not a violation of this Section for a person to relinquish a child in accordance with the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act.

(b)A trier of fact may infer that a child 6 years of age or younger is unattended if that child is left in a motor vehicle for more than 10 minutes.

(c)"Unattended" means either:

(i)not accompanied by a person 14 years of age or older; or

(ii)if accompanied by a person 14 years of age or older, out of sight of that person.

(d)Sentence. A violation of this Section is a Class A misdemeanor. A second or subsequent violation of this Section is a Class 3 felony. A violation of this Section that is a proximate cause of the death of the child is a Class 3 felony for which a person, if sentenced to a term of imprisonment, shall be sentenced to a term of not less than 2 years and not more than 10 years. A parent, who is found to be in violation of this Section with respect to his or her child, may be sentenced to probation for this offense pursuant to Section 12C-15.