North Dakota Code 14-09-22 – Abuse of child – Mandatory sentence – Penalty
1. Except as provided in subsection 2 or 3, a parent, adult family or household member, guardian, or other custodian of any child, who willfully inflicts or allows to be inflicted upon the child mental injury or bodily injury, substantial bodily injury, or serious bodily injury as defined by section 12.1-01-04 is guilty of a class C felony except if the victim of an offense under this section is under the age of six years in which case the offense is a class B felony. For purposes of this subsection, “mental injury” means an observable and substantial, nontransitory impairment to a child’s mental or psychological ability to function within a normal range of performance or behavior.
Attorney's Note
Under the North Dakota Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class A felony | up to 20 years | up to $20,000 |
| Class B felony | up to 10 years | up to $20,000 |
| Class C felony | up to 5 years | up to $10,000 |
Terms Used In North Dakota Code 14-09-22
- Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
- Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
- Person: means an individual, organization, government, political subdivision, or government agency or instrumentality. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
- Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
- Sex: means the biological state of being male or female, based on the individual's nonambiguous sex organs, chromosomes, or endogenous hormone profiles at birth. See North Dakota Code 1-01-49
- year: means twelve consecutive months. See North Dakota Code 1-01-33
2. A person who provides care, supervision, education, or guidance for a child unaccompanied by the child’s parent, adult family or household member, guardian, or custodian in exchange for money, goods, or other services and who while providing such services commits an offense under this section is guilty of a class B felony. Any such person who commits, allows to be committed, or conspires to commit, against the child, a sex offense as defined in chapter 12.1-20 is subject to the penalties provided in that chapter.
3. A person who commits an offense under this section is guilty of a class B felony if the victim suffers permanent loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member or organ, except if the victim of the offense is under the age of six years in which case the offense is a class A felony.
4. A person who has pled guilty or nolo contendere to, or has been found guilty of an offense under this section must be sentenced to a minimum of one year imprisonment.
5. For any person who pleads guilty or is convicted of an offense under this section, the court shall include in the sentence an order for the person to complete a parental capacity evaluation, mental health evaluation, and anger management assessment, and to complete treatment recommendations as ordered by the court as a condition of probation.