I wonder if that scenario would lead to prosecutions for parents involved? If there were young children outside with no supervision for maybe 2 - 3 hours, and for such a horrendous thing to happen, would it lead to any charges?
I know the law in the UK doesn’t say an age when you can leave a child on their own, but it’s an offence to leave a child alone if it places them at risk.
In effect, if you are asleep in another room, then your child is technically alone. The Governmental website in the UK actually states: Parents can be prosecuted if they leave a child unsupervised ‘in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury to health’. I wonder if there is similar thinking in this case, and that is what the delays are all about?
Here is part of the Virginia state law. I think there is a lot of room here to leave it up to a case-by-case basis, but technically there is no minimum age for children to be "home alone" (and thus, unsupervised)
http://www.dss.virginia.gov/files/division/dfs/cps/intro_page/publications/general/alone.pdf
Pulaski County does not list specific guidelines on their website, but under Family Engagement, this statement links to Virginia State resources:
" No longer are Virginia's social service agencies the sole decision makers for Virginia's children and families. Family engagement requires a shift from the belief that agencies alone know what is best for children and families to one that allows the family to fully participate in decision-making." from
http://www.pcdss.org/index.php?id=children
However, Pulaski County (as many others in Virginia) require an adult meet Kindergartners when they get off the school bus. A child of Noah's age (he was in Kindergarten) would not have been allowed to disembark the school bus to walk home, whether that was a short of long distance, without the bus driver being able to see a known adult waiting for him. That stands to reason that Pulaski county views a Kindergartner as too young to be walking outside unattended/unsupervised. (The press may not have traveled across the pond to the UK but there is a big case in MSM currently of a family in a neighboring state allowing their children, ages 6 & 10, to play outside unsupervised and walk to a nearby park).
Basically, the state law in Virginia is very minimal and each county has an opportunity to set more stringent "guidelines" in place.
Just for frame of reference, here are a couple of other counties in VA
(Fairfax County) 7 years and under:
Should not be left alone for any period of time. This may include leaving children unattended in cars, playgrounds, and backyards. The determining consideration would be the dangers in the environment and the ability of the caretaker to intervene.
(Loudon County)
Children Should be Supervised at All Times. Children who are in middle school or younger should have direct adult supervision. If this cannot be arranged, parents need to use good judgment in deciding if children should be left alone and for how long. Age 0-9 Should not be left unsupervised
I think all of that, taken together, means that, yes, charges could be pursued but they are not mandated.
P.S.
Where is our resident legal eagle on this?
.
