State Laws And Let Grow Updates in New Hampshire

It is considered criminal endangerment of a child for a person to “knowingly” endanger a child’s welfare by violating a duty of care, protection or support he owes to such child or incompetent person, or by inducing such child or incompetent person to engage in conduct that endangers his health or safety. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 639:3. This is a broad, general statement of criminal liability that could be applied to leaving a child alone.

Neglect is defined as being without proper parental care or control, subsistence, education as required by law, or other care or control necessary for the child’s physical, mental, or emotional health, when it is established that the child’s health has suffered or is likely to suffer serious impairment; and the deprivation is not due primarily to the lack of financial means of the parents, guardian, or custodian…. N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 169-C:3. This is a typical neglect law; it does not specify lack of supervision as “being without proper parental care” but gives broad discretion to include lack of supervision within the understanding of “proper parental care.”

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.