{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "penal", "section": "260.00", "citation": "Penal Law § 260.00", "heading": "Abandonment of a child", "text": ["§ 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_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/260.00", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "- **(1)** A parent, guardian, or other legal caregiver commits abandonment by **deserting a child under 14 anywhere with intent to abandon the child completely**.\n- **(2)** Safe surrender is excluded when the person intends the child’s safety and proper care, leaves the child with a proper person or at a suitable place, promptly reports the location, and the child is **no more than 30 days old**. ★\nThe offense is a **class E felony**.", "in_force_on": "2026-05-31", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/penal/260.00", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}