Maine criminal charge
Abandonment of child in Maine
Abandonment of child is a criminal offense under Maine law, defined by 17-A M.R.S. § 553. Its classification is not fixed: Maine assigns a different penalty class depending on the circumstances of the offense. The class that applies — and the sentencing range that follows from it — depends on which statutory variant fits the facts.
Defined by 17-A M.R.S. § 553.
What is the penalty for abandonment of child in Maine?
| Penalty | Range | Basis | Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jail / prison | up to 364 days (Abandonment of child under 14 — The person leaves a child under 14 years of age in a place with intent to abandon the child.; the statutory maximum is 'less than one year' (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(D)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $2,000 (Abandonment of child under 14 — The person leaves a child under 14 years of age in a place with intent to abandon the child.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(4)); organizations up to $10,000 (§1705); statute-specific fines may differ) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Abandonment of child under 6 — The person leaves a child under 6 years of age in a place with intent to abandon the child.; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(C)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum, and mandatory minimums apply to certain crimes (§1604(3))) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Abandonment of child under 6 — The person leaves a child under 6 years of age in a place with intent to abandon the child.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(3)); organizations up to $20,000 (§1705); statute-specific and alternative fines may exceed (§1706)) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Jail / prison | up to 364 days (Improper transfer of custody of child under 18 — The person, intending to avoid or divest permanent parental responsibility, places or transfers physical custody of a child under 18 to a nonrelative without court approval.; the statutory maximum is 'less than one year' (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(D)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $2,000 (Improper transfer of custody of child under 18 — The person, intending to avoid or divest permanent parental responsibility, places or transfers physical custody of a child under 18 to a nonrelative without court approval.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(4)); organizations up to $10,000 (§1705); statute-specific fines may differ) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Jail / prison | up to 5 years (Improper transfer of custody of child under 6 — The person, intending to avoid or divest permanent parental responsibility, places or transfers physical custody of a child under 6 to a nonrelative without court approval.; statutory default maximum (17-A M.R.S. §1604(1)(C)); individual statutes may specify a different maximum, and mandatory minimums apply to certain crimes (§1604(3))) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
| Fine | up to $5,000 (Improper transfer of custody of child under 6 — The person, intending to avoid or divest permanent parental responsibility, places or transfers physical custody of a child under 6 to a nonrelative without court approval.; maximum for an individual (17-A M.R.S. §1704(3)); organizations up to $20,000 (§1705); statute-specific and alternative fines may exceed (§1706)) | discretionary | 17-A M.R.S. § 1604 |
Applies to current (PL 2019, c. 113 recodification).
How is abandonment of child classified in Maine?
The classification depends on the circumstances:
| Variant | Classification | When it applies | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abandonment of child under 14 | Class D Crime | The person leaves a child under 14 years of age in a place with intent to abandon the child. | 17-A M.R.S. § 553(1)(A) |
| Abandonment of child under 6 | Class C Crime | The person leaves a child under 6 years of age in a place with intent to abandon the child. | 17-A M.R.S. § 553(1)(B) |
| Improper transfer of custody of child under 18 | Class D Crime | The person, intending to avoid or divest permanent parental responsibility, places or transfers physical custody of a child under 18 to a nonrelative without court approval. | 17-A M.R.S. § 553(1)(C) |
| Improper transfer of custody of child under 6 | Class C Crime | The person, intending to avoid or divest permanent parental responsibility, places or transfers physical custody of a child under 6 to a nonrelative without court approval. | 17-A M.R.S. § 553(1)(D) |
Common questions about abandonment of child in Maine
What class of crime is abandonment of child in Maine?
It depends on the circumstances: abandonment of child ranges from a Class D Crime to a Class C Crime in Maine under 17-A M.R.S. § 553.
Abandonment of child under 14: Class D Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 553(1)(A)) · Abandonment of child under 6: Class C Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 553(1)(B)) · Improper transfer of custody of child under 18: Class D Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 553(1)(C)) · Improper transfer of custody of child under 6: Class C Crime (17-A M.R.S. § 553(1)(D))
What are the penalties for abandonment of child in Maine?
Penalties for abandonment of child in Maine depend on how it is classified — from a Class D Crime up to a Class C Crime — with the ranges set by 17-A M.R.S. § 1604; the full table of ranges by variant is published on this page.
Which Maine statute covers abandonment of child?
Abandonment of child is governed by 17-A M.R.S. § 553 (Abandonment of child).
Legal terms used in this law
This reference is informational and is not legal advice. Penalty ranges are the statutory classification ranges; sentencing in a specific case depends on its facts and history.