Unattended child law in Nevada – When is it a crime?

Posted on November 9, 2022

Leaving children in your care without supervision, food, shelter, medical care, or other necessities is child abuse and neglect in Nevada (NRS 200.508).¹

Nevada law has no legal minimum age for leaving a child home alone and unsupervised. Therefore courts would look at the totality of the circumstances to determine whether the parent, guardian, or child care worker committed neglect by leaving a child to fend for themselves. Some factors include:

• the child’s age,
• the period of time the child was left unattended,
• where the child was left unattended,
• whether the child was left with ways to contact help, and
• whether there was enough food and water.

The punishment for leaving a child unattended turn on the circumstances of the case:

Can I leave my child in a car?

Nevada has a state law – NRS 202.485 – that makes it a crime to intentionally leave a child under eight years of age alone in a vehicle if either:

• the keys are in the ignition,
• the engine of the motor vehicle is running, or
• the conditions are potentially dangerous (like in a hot car).

Leaving a child alone under these conditions is a misdemeanor in Nevada, carrying up to

• $1,000 in fines and/or
• 6 months in jail.

If the child was unharmed, courts may agree to dismiss the case if the defendant completes an education program about child welfare.

Note that as long as someone at least age 12 is actively supervising the young child, then the parent or legal guardian cannot face criminal charges for leaving a child unattended in a vehicle (NRS 202.485).³

How do I fight Nevada charges of leaving a child unattended?

Depending on the case, Nevada criminal defense attorneys may be able to get child neglect charges reduced or dismissed by arguing that:

1. There was no child endangerment. Nothing the defendant did threatened the safety of the child or the child’s well-being;
2. The police committed misconduct. Perhaps the law enforcement officers used improper interrogation techniques when questioning the child;
3. The incident was an accident. Criminal charges do not apply if the defendant did not intentionally neglect the child or knowingly allow the child to be unattended;
4. The defendant was falsely accused. Maybe the child made up the neglect to try to get the defendant in trouble. Or perhaps the defendant’s co-parent fabricated a story to gain the upper hand in child custody proceedings; or
5. The conditions were safe outside the car. Leaving a child under eight years old in a car is not in and of itself a crime in Nevada as long as the conditions are safe, the car is off, and no keys are in the ignition.

If a reasonable doubt exists as to the defendant’s guilt, criminal charges should not stand.

Child neglect is a Nevada misdemeanor, gross misdemeanor, or felony depending on the case.

Helpful Links

• Las Vegas, NV Child Protective Services (CPS)
• Reno, NV Child Protective Services (CPS)
• Division of Child & Family Services (Nevada Department of Health and Human Services)
• State of Nevada Division of Public Health (DPBH)

See our related articles, Can I leave my kid alone in a car in Nevada? and Leaving your child in a cold car in Nevada may be a crime.

Legal References

About the Author

Neil Shouse

A former Los Angeles prosecutor, attorney Neil Shouse graduated with honors from UC Berkeley and Harvard Law School (and completed additional graduate studies at MIT). He has been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, Dr Phil, The Today Show and Court TV. Mr Shouse has been recognized by the National Trial Lawyers as one of the Top 100 Criminal and Top 100 Civil Attorneys.