Child neglect is the failure of a parent or other person with responsibility for the child to provide the food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education, and supervision necessary for the child's health, safety, and well-being. Placing the child in physically or emotionally harmful situations is also child neglect. Courts take child neglect seriously, and a parent or other person with custody of the child who is guilty of child neglect may lose custody of the child, and may face criminal charges.
In West Virginia, child neglect is addressed under state statutes that define it as the failure of a parent or guardian to provide necessary care, including food, clothing, shelter, medical care, education, and supervision, which ensures a child's health, safety, and well-being. This also encompasses the responsibility to avoid placing the child in physically or emotionally harmful situations. West Virginia law takes allegations of child neglect seriously, and such conduct can lead to intervention by Child Protective Services (CPS), loss of custody, and potential criminal charges. The state's child welfare laws are designed to protect children and ensure their well-being, and courts are empowered to remove children from situations where they are found to be neglected. Criminal charges for child neglect can result in severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment, under the West Virginia Code.