Can I be charged with neglect?

[mominneed47371]

My brother was watching my kids while I left the house for a half hoour. When I returned home I noticed my daughter was not there and my brother had no idea where she was. We found out the police found her wondering outside and picked her up. She had a soaked diaper and chocolate powder on her face on top of getting out of the house so my brother is being charged with criminal neglect of a dependant. The problem is that I had to leave in a hurry so I did not clean her up or change her diaper before I left so she was already like that when she entered his care. My brother plans to tell the court that its my fault. Can I also be charged with neglect for this?

[mominneed47371]

re: Can I be charged with neglect?

Neglect, child abuse, cps

[sandyclaus]

My brother was watching my kids while I left the house for a half hoour. When I returned home I noticed my daughter was not there and my brother had no idea where she was. We found out the police found her wondering outside and picked her up. She had a soaked diaper and chocolate powder on her face on top of getting out of the house so my brother is being charged with criminal neglect of a dependant. The problem is that I had to leave in a hurry so I did not clean her up or change her diaper before I left so she was already like that when she entered his care. My brother plans to tell the court that its my fault. Can I also be charged with neglect for this?

Can you? Maybe, but I seriously doubt it.

You used poor judgment in allowing someone to watch them who clearly wasn't equipped to do it. Had he been more competent, the first thing he should have done is to change the diaper. He also needed to keep a closer eye on her. But the neglect itself resulted from his actions (or inaction, as it appears).

You can probably count on CPS being in your life for awhile. A small price for the miracle that nothing worse happened with and to your child here.

[BOR]

re: Can I be charged with neglect?

My brother plans to tell the court that its my fault. Can I also be charged with neglect for this?

If your brother was an acceptable age to watch them, varies by jurisdiction, the fault is on him, as long as he accepted the duty to watch them, did you tell him you were leaving, meaning did he know?

If yes, imo, it would not impute liability to you!!

[Friend In Court]

Re: Can I be charged with neglect?

I agree with Sandy and BOR. As long as the brother was a responsible person, of proper age, HE should have been the one to change the diaper and also assure she did not get out his sight.

HE could be charged with neglect, not you.