State Policy Maps

In 2020, after Utah passed the first “independence for kids” law, Let Grow surveyed the non-criminal neglect laws (under a variety of juvenile court, dependency court, family court and administrative laws) that are enforced by child protection authorities. States use a variety of names for laws that authorize investigations and state action to separate families in cases where children are considered endangered if they remain in their own homes.

LG_LegislativeMaps 2022_JC CPS NLS_UPDATED

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In 2020, Let Grow surveyed the criminal codes of all of the states and the District of Columbia to determine which states authorize criminal penalties against parents who allow their children to be alone. The following map gives an overview of how each state’s criminal law treats cases of unsupervised children children if police are called. (Note: local ordinances may also apply but were not surveyed or included.)

LG_LegislativeMaps 2022_CriminalLawSurvey_UPDATED

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Criminal & Neglect Laws For Each State

Alabama

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Alabama

Alaska

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Alaska

Arizona

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Arizona

Arkansas

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Arkansas

California

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in California

Colorado**

Colorado passed their Reasonable Childhood Independence Law in 2022. Learn more and get a peek at the process.

Connecticut

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Connecticut

Delaware

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Delaware

Florida

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Florida

Georgia

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Georgia

Hawaii

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Hawaii

Idaho

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Idaho

Illinois

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Illinois

Indiana

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Indiana

Iowa

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Iowa

Kansas

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Kansas

Kentucky

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Kentucky

Louisiana

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Louisiana

Maine

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Maine

Maryland

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Maryland

Massachusetts

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Massachusetts

Michigan

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Michigan

Minnesota

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Minnesota

Mississippi

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Mississippi

Missouri

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Missouri

Montana

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Montana

Nebraska

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Nebraska

Nevada

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Nevada

New Hampshire

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in New Hampshire

New Jersey

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in New Jersey

New Mexico

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in New Mexico

New York

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in New York

North Carolina

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in North Carolina

North Dakota

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in North Dakota

Ohio

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Ohio

Oklahoma

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Oklahoma

Oregon

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Oregon

Pennsylvania

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Rhode Island

South Carolina

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in South Carolina

South Dakota

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in South Dakota

Tennessee

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Tennessee

Texas**

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Texas

Utah**

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Utah

Vermont

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Vermont

Virginia**

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Virginia

Washington

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Washington

Washington D.C.

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Washington D.C.

West Virginia

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in West Virginia

Wisconsin

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Wisconsin

Wyoming

Read about the policies, criminal & neglect laws, regulations and Let Grow updates in Wyoming