California Penal Code Section 272
by
Randy Collins on Feb. 23, 2012
Criminal Felony Criminal Misdemeanor
Summary: Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor is the willful act of helping someone under the age of 18 (a minor) to carry out a felonious act
Definition
Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor under California Penal Code Section 272, is a criminal offense and it is normally filed as either a felony or misdemeanor. Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor is the willful act of helping someone under the age of 18 (a minor) to carry out a felonious act.
Example
A common scenario of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor is when an adult helps a minor to access tobacco or alcohol.
Elements of the Crime
In order to take an Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor CPC 272 case to trial, certain elements of the crime will have to be proven. These include:
- That the defendant was involved in behavior that would have the minor most likely become dependent of juvenile prison, become criminal and an habitual offender.
Punishments for CPC 272
These penalties are to be determined by a judge and he/she will make a decision based on the circumstances surrounding the case, and also an individual’s criminal history.
When found guilty of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, it is a misdemeanor punishable by one year in jail and a two thousand, five hundred dollar fine, and also an informal probation of up to 5 years.
Legal Defenses for California Penal Code 272
A good lawyer can present many legal and valid defenses for Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor charges under California Penal Code 272 to prove someone’s innocence. A legal defense team can argue that the guilty party was falsely accused.
Learn more about other California Section Penal Codes here.