{"data":{"id":"us-ar/ark.-code-ann.-5-27-205","jurisdiction":"us-ar","citation":"Ark. Code Ann. § 5-27-205","heading":"Endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree","body":"(a) A person commits the offense of endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree if, being a parent, guardian, person legally charged with care or custody of a minor, or a person charged with supervision of a minor, he or she purposely: (1) Engages in conduct creating a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to a minor; or (2) Deserts a minor less than ten (10) years old under circumstances creating a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury. (b) Endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree is a Class D felony. (c) (1) It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this section that a parent voluntarily delivered a child to and left the child with or in, or voluntarily arranged for another person to deliver a child to and leave the child with or in, a medical provider, law enforcement agency, fire department, or a newborn safety device as provided in § 9-34-201 et seq. (2) (A) Subdivision (c)(1) of this section does not create a defense to any prosecution arising from any conduct other than the act of delivering a child as described in subdivision (c)(1) of this section. (B) Subdivision (c)(1) of this section specifically does not constitute a defense to any prosecution arising from an act of abuse or neglect committed before the delivery of a child to a medical provider, law enforcement agency, fire department, or a newborn safety device as provided in § 9-34-201 et seq. Amended by Act 2023, No. 68,§ 1, eff. 8/1/2023. Amended by Act 2019, No. 185,§ 1, eff. 7/24/2019. Acts 1975, No. 280, § 2407; A.S.A. 1947, § 41-2407; Acts 2001, No. 236, § 2; 2005, No. 2207, § 1.\n\n(a) A person commits the offense of endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree if, being a parent, guardian, person legally charged with care or custody of a minor, or a person charged with supervision of a minor, he or she purposely: (1) Engages in conduct creating a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to a minor; or (2) Deserts a minor less than ten (10) years old under circumstances creating a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury.\n\n(1) Engages in conduct creating a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to a minor; or\n\n(2) Deserts a minor less than ten (10) years old under circumstances creating a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury.\n\n(b) Endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree is a Class D felony.\n\n(c) (1) It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this section that a parent voluntarily delivered a child to and left the child with or in, or voluntarily arranged for another person to deliver a child to and leave the child with or in, a medical provider, law enforcement agency, fire department, or a newborn safety device as provided in § 9-34-201 et seq. (2) (A) Subdivision (c)(1) of this section does not create a defense to any prosecution arising from any conduct other than the act of delivering a child as described in subdivision (c)(1) of this section. (B) Subdivision (c)(1) of this section specifically does not constitute a defense to any prosecution arising from an act of abuse or neglect committed before the delivery of a child to a medical provider, law enforcement agency, fire department, or a newborn safety device as provided in § 9-34-201 et seq.\n\n(1) It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this section that a parent voluntarily delivered a child to and left the child with or in, or voluntarily arranged for another person to deliver a child to and leave the child with or in, a medical provider, law enforcement agency, fire department, or a newborn safety device as provided in § 9-34-201 et seq.\nas provided in § 9-34-201 et seq.\n\n(1) It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this section that a parent voluntarily delivered a child to and left the child with or in, or voluntarily arranged for another person to deliver a child to and leave the child with or in, a medical provider, law enforcement agency, fire department, or a newborn safety device as provided in § 9-34-201 et seq.\n\n(2) (A) Subdivision (c)(1) of this section does not create a defense to any prosecution arising from any conduct other than the act of delivering a child as described in subdivision (c)(1) of this section. (B) Subdivision (c)(1) of this section specifically does not constitute a defense to any prosecution arising from an act of abuse or neglect committed before the delivery of a child to a medical provider, law enforcement agency, fire department, or a newborn safety device as provided in § 9-34-201 et seq.\n\n(A) Subdivision (c)(1) of this section does not create a defense to any prosecution arising from any conduct other than the act of delivering a child as described in subdivision (c)(1) of this section.\n\n(B) Subdivision (c)(1) of this section specifically does not constitute a defense to any prosecution arising from an act of abuse or neglect committed before the delivery of a child to a medical provider, law enforcement agency, fire department, or a newborn safety device as provided in § 9-34-201 et seq.","path":["AR Code","Title 5","Chapter 27","Subchapter 2"],"source_url":"https://oss-data-us.vaquill.ai/v2026.08/us_ar_statutes.parquet","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:41Z","sha256":"83b1f21bfb2d72a0554d838db014d354d65b33e81281ffaaaca12b97f7eaea8d","source_id":"us-ar","stale":false,"prev":"us-ar/ark.-code-ann.-5-27-203","next":"us-ar/ark.-code-ann.-5-27-206"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}