Utah legal term
Abandonment in Utah Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Utah legislative session
In Utah criminal law, “Abandonment” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the Utah criminal code.
What does “Abandonment” mean in Utah criminal law?
"Abandonment" means a knowing or intentional action or inaction, including desertion, by a person acting as a caretaker for a vulnerable adult that leaves the vulnerable adult without the means or ability to obtain necessary food, clothing, shelter, or medical or other health care. (Utah Code Ann. § 76-5-111)
Statutes defining or using this term
Charges using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.