State Laws And Let Grow Updates in Michigan

Michigan treats a person’s omission or reckless act that causes physical harm to a child as a crime. Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.136b. Michigan prohibits children from being left alone in a car under the age of 13 if they are left for “a period of time that poses an unreasonable risk of harm or injury to the child or under circumstances that pose an unreasonable risk of harm or injury to the child.” Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.135a

Neglect is very broadly defined as “Placing a child at an unreasonable risk to the child’s health or welfare by failure of the parent, legal guardian, or other person responsible for the child’s health or welfare to intervene to eliminate that risk when that person is able to do so and has, or should have, knowledge of the risk.” Mich. Comp. Laws § 722.622. A Michigan Resource Guide for Mandated reporters states that “According to the Child Protection Law, there is no legal age that a child can be left home alone. It is determined on a case-by-case basis, but as a general rule, a child 10 years old and younger is not responsible enough to be left home alone. A child over the age of 10 and under the age of 12 will be evaluated, but the case may not always be assigned for a CPS investigation.” Mandated Reporters’ Resource Guide, Appendix p. 18. Let Grow disagrees with this policy as to most 10-year-olds.

This webpage is not a legal document, and Let Grow does not take responsibility for the content. Be mindful that some localities have rules and guidelines even when the state does not. When in doubt, consult your local authorities to confirm the laws where you live. What’s more, laws change, as do judicial interpretations of them, and this webpage may not be updated immediately.