Abandono de una persona dependiente en tercer grado - Excepción para padres

Explicación Simple

Si un padre o cuidador deja a un niño o persona dependiente en un lugar peligroso, puede ser acusado de un crimen. Pero si un padre entrega a su recién nacido a alguien calificado en un lugar seguro, no tendrá problemas legales.

Es como si un entrenador dejara a un jugador solo en medio de un partido, arriesgando que se lastime. Pero si el entrenador se asegura de que el jugador esté en buenas manos antes de irse, no hay problema.

Ejemplo Práctico

Imagina que Ana es la madre de un niño pequeño y decide dejarlo solo en casa mientras sale a comprar. Si el niño se lastima porque nadie está cuidándolo, Ana podría enfrentar cargos por abandono. Sin embargo, si Ana entrega a su bebé a su hermana en una clínica, no tendrá problemas legales.

Penalidades

El abandono de un dependiente en tercer grado es un delito menor grave.

Texto Original del Estatuto (Inglés)

RCW 9A.42.080 - Abandonment of a dependent person in the third degree -- Exception (1) Except as provided in subsection (2) of this section, a person is guilty of the crime of abandonment of a dependent person in the third degree if:(a) The person is the parent of a child, a person entrusted with the physical custody of a child or other dependent person, a person who has assumed the responsibility to provide to a dependent person the basic necessities of life, or a person employed to provide to the child or dependent person any of the basic necessities of life; and(b) The person recklessly abandons the child or other dependent person; and:(i) As a result of being abandoned, the child or other dependent person suffers bodily harm; or(ii) Abandoning the child or other dependent person creates an imminent and substantial risk that the child or other person will suffer substantial bodily harm.(2) A parent of a newborn who transfers the newborn to a qualified person at an appropriate location pursuant to RCW 13.34.360 is not subject to criminal liability under this section.(3) Abandonment of a dependent person in the third degree is a gross misdemeanor. RCW 9A.42.090 - Abandonment of a dependent person -- Defense It is an affirmative defense to the charge of abandonment of a dependent person, that the person employed to provide any of the basic necessities of life to the child or other dependent person, gave reasonable notice of termination of services and the services were not terminated until after the termination date specified in the notice. The notice must be given to the child or dependent person, and to other persons or organizations that have requested notice of termination of services furnished to the child or other dependent person.The department of social and