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Virginia statute

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-371 — Causing or encouraging acts rendering children delinquent, abused, etc.; penalty; abandoned infant

Current through 2026 Regular Session

Part of Article 4: Family Offenses; Crimes Against Children, Etc, Code of Virginia.

Criminal charges under this statute

Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-371

Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the text of the Code of Virginia from the official Virginia Law Portal API published by the Virginia General Assembly's Division of Legislative Automated Systems; it is not the official Code of Virginia.

Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-371Primary source, current through the 2026 Regular Session
Any person 18 years of age or older, including the parent of any child, who (i) willfully contributes to, encourages, or causes any act, omission, or condition that (a) causes a child younger than 11 years of age to commit an act that would be delinquent if committed by a child 11 years of age or older; (b) renders a child delinquent, in need of services, in need of supervision, or abused or neglected as defined in § 16.1-228 ; or (c) causes any child to participate in or become a member of a criminal street gang in violation of Article 2.1 (§ 18.2-46.1 et seq.) of Chapter 4 or (ii) engages in consensual sexual intercourse or anal intercourse with or performs cunnilingus, fellatio, or anilingus upon or by a child 15 or older not his spouse, child, or grandchild is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. This section shall not be construed as repealing, modifying, or in any way affecting §§ 18.2-18 and 18.2-19 , Article 2.1 (§ 18.2-46.1 et seq.) of Chapter 4, and §§ 18.2-61 , 18.2-63 , and 18.2-347 . If the prosecution under this section is based solely on the accused parent having left the child at a hospital or emergency medical services agency, it shall be an affirmative defense to prosecution of a parent under this section that such parent safely delivered the child within the first 30 days of the child's life to (a) a hospital that provides 24-hour emergency services, (b) an attended emergency medical services agency that employs emergency medical services personnel, or (c) a newborn safety device located at and operated by such hospital or emergency medical services agency. In order for the affirmative defense to apply, the child shall be delivered in a manner reasonably calculated to ensure the child's safety.

Official sources

Legal terms used in this section

Questions this section answers

Is abuse and neglect of children a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

It depends on the circumstances: abuse and neglect of children ranges from a class 6 felony to a class 4 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-371.1.

Willful abuse/neglect causing serious injury: class 4 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-371.1A) · Willful abuse/neglect showing reckless disregard for life: class 6 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-371.1B) · Enabling a child to gain possession of a firearm: class 5 felony (Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-371.1C)

Is causing or encouraging acts rendering children delinquent, abused, etc a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?

Causing or encouraging acts rendering children delinquent, abused, etc is a class 1 misdemeanor in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-371.

Which Virginia statute covers causing or encouraging acts rendering children delinquent, abused, etc?

Causing or encouraging acts rendering children delinquent, abused, etc is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-371 (Causing or encouraging acts rendering children delinquent, abused, etc.; penalty; abandoned infant).

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.