We want to protect our minors and teach them to respect the law. Enabling a child to break the law is one definition of contributing to the delinquency of an Oklahoma minor. In Tulsa, doing so is a crime. 
In Oklahoma, it is against the law to knowingly or willfully cause, aid, abet, or encourage a minor to become a delinquent child. Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 856. This is a broad statute that includes any action or encouragement of delinquency, including helping a child smoke, drink, or engage in any other illegal act.
Contributing to the delinquency of an Oklahoma minor also includes willfully or knowingly encouraging or aiding a child to become involved in gang activities, to join a gang, and to associate with any gang or gang member with regard to criminal activities of any sort. Contributing to the delinquency of a minor also includes aiding or abetting a child who is running away from home.
Runaway Children
A runaway child as an unemancipated minor who voluntarily leaves home without a compelling reason, without consent, and without the parent’s knowledge. Helping such a child run away from home, absent compelling reason is contributing to the delinquency of a minor in Oklahoma.
Compelling reasons may include imminent danger from incest, a life-threatening situation, or equally traumatizing threat to the child’s physical, emotional, or mental health. Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 856.
If you help a child in such danger, you must notify the Department of Human Services or local law enforcement of the child’s location within 12 hours.
Helping a child break the law can lead that child to increased risk of repeat offenses both as a minor and as an adult. As such, contributing to that child’s delinquency is a serious offense in Oklahoma.
Specific Delinquent Acts Involving a Minor
A minor is a child under 18 years of age in Tulsa. Helping or enabling a child to engage in any of the following activities constitutes contributing to a child’s delinquency:
- Associating with criminals or immoral persons.
- Attending a brothel.
- Attending casinos or other places which feature gambling.
- Taking a child to a bar or other place where alcohol is manufactured, stored, or sold, or being engaged in the use of or sale of alcohol.
- Exposing a child to, or involving a child in any pornography.
- Engaging in indecent or lewd exposure or other sexual acts for any purpose, including the preparation of child pornography.
- Helping a child runaway from his or her parent or legal guardian.
- Helping a child engage in any sort of illegal drug activity is also against the law. Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 857.
Penalties for Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor Can Be Severe
Penalties are varied for this crime and can increase with subsequent convictions and the type of activity involved.
A first offense is a misdemeanor punishable by a jail term of as much as one year. And you could be fined as much as $1,000. A second offense is a felony punishable by a jail term as many as three years. And you could be fined as much as $5,000. Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 856.
If the crime committed by the child would be a felony if committed by an adult, any adult who enables the crime can receive the maximum sentence for that felony. Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 856.
Free Consultation: Tulsa Criminal Defense Attorney
A criminal conviction can change your life. Get the help you need. Contact a Tulsa criminal defense attorney to discuss your available legal options if you are charged with this or any other crime. The first consultation is free.
Consult with an experienced attorney at the Tulsa Criminal Defense Law Firm today, by calling 918-756-9600 or toll-free at 1-888-447-7262.
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