New York statute
N.Y. Penal Law § 260.00 — Abandonment of a child
Current through 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17)
Part of Article 260: Offenses Relating to Children, Disabled Persons and Vulnerable Elderly Persons, New York Penal Law.
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of N.Y. Penal Law § 260.00
Statutory text current through the 2026 legislative session (LBDC text via OpenLegislation as of 2026-07-17). This publication reproduces the text of the Consolidated Laws of New York as provided by the New York State Senate's Open Legislation service (Legislative Bill Drafting Commission statutory text); it is not the official statutes of the State of New York.
260.00 Abandonment of a child.
1. A person is guilty of abandonment of a child when, being a parent,
guardian or other person legally charged with the care or custody of a
child less than fourteen years old, he or she deserts such child in any
place with intent to wholly abandon such child.
2. A person is not guilty of the provisions of this section when he or
she engages in the conduct described in subdivision one of this section:
(a) with the intent that the child be safe from physical injury and
cared for in an appropriate manner; (b) the child is left with an
appropriate person, or in a suitable location and the person who leaves
the child promptly notifies an appropriate person of the child's
location; and (c) the child is not more than thirty days old.
Abandonment of a child is a class E felony.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
What class of felony is abandonment of a child in New York?
Abandonment of a child is a Class E Felony in New York under N.Y. Penal Law § 260.00.
Which New York statute covers abandonment of a child?
Abandonment of a child is governed by N.Y. Penal Law § 260.00 (Abandonment of a child).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.