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.
Initial 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 low-cost.
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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