Code of Alabama
Ala. Code § 13A-13-6 (2026)
Endangering Welfare of Child.
✓ official Alabama Legislature (ALISON) text, current July 2026
(a) A man or woman commits the crime of endangering the welfare of a child when:
(1) He or she knowingly directs or authorizes a child less than 16 years of age to engage in an occupation involving a substantial risk of danger to his life or health; or
(2) He or she, as a parent, guardian or other person legally charged with the care or custody of a child less than 18 years of age, fails to exercise reasonable diligence in the control of such child to prevent him or her from becoming a “dependent child” or a “delinquent child,” as defined in Section 12-15-1.
(b) A person does not commit an offense under Section 13A-13-4 or this section for the sole reason he provides a child under the age of 19 years or a dependent spouse with remedial treatment by spiritual means alone in accordance with the tenets and practices of a recognized church or religious denomination by a duly accredited practitioner thereof in lieu of medical treatment.
(c) Endangering the welfare of a child is a Class A misdemeanor.
(Acts 1977, No. 607, p. 812, §7035.)
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 15
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1992–2022 · leading case: Sullens v. State, 878 So. 2d 1216 (Ala. Crim. App. 2003).
Sullens v. State, 878 So. 2d 1216 (Ala. Crim. App. 2003). “Generally, it is `sufficient to charge the elements of the statutory offense in the words of the statute [here, § 13A-13-6], provided the statute prescribe[s] with definiteness the constituent elements of the offense.”
Pearson v. State, 601 So. 2d 1119 (Ala. Crim. App. 1992). “After a jury trial, they were convicted of the misdemeanor offense of endangering the welfare of a child, a violation of Ala.Code 1975, § 13A-13-6. They were sentenced to 225 days' imprisonment.”
Harrison v. State, 879 So. 2d 594 (Ala. Crim. App. 2003). “Generally, it is "sufficient to charge the elements of the statutory offense in the words of the statute [here, § 13A-13-6], provided the statute prescribe[s] with definiteness the constituent elements of the offense.”
Soram, 25 I. & N. Dec. 378 (BIA 2010). “2 See Ala. Code § 13A-13-6 (1996); Ariz. Rev. Stat.”
Ibarra v. Holder, Jr., 736 F.3d 903 (10th Cir. 2013). “Alabama: Ala. Code § 13A-13-6 (Michie, Westlaw through 1996 legislation) (Alabama at least criminalizes intentionally abandoning children, Ala.”
Hermanson v. State, 604 So. 2d 775 (Fla. 1992). “, and McDONALD, SHAW, GRIMES, KOGAN and HARDING, JJ., concur.”
Pruitt v. State, 272 So. 3d 732 (Ala. Crim. App. 2018). “production of persons under 17 years of age involved in obscene acts); § 13A-12-192 (prohibiting the possession of obscene matter containing visual reproduction of persons under 17 years of age involved in obscene acts); § 13A-12-196 (prohibiting parents or guardians from…”
J.L.N. v. State, 894 So. 2d 751 (Ala. 2004). “'s house, the victim’s mother was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, in violation of § 13A-13-6, Ala.Code 1975. . J.L.N. does not allege, nor does he cite any legal authority for the proposition, that he has a constitutional right to cohabit, outside of marriage,…”
Harris v. State, 272 So. 3d 1201 (Ala. Crim. App. 2018). “The record shows that Harris moved the circuit court to charge the jury on the offense of endangering the welfare of a child as set out in § 13A-13-6, Ala. Code 1975. (C. 23.) The court expressed concerns whether endangering the welfare of a child was a lesser-included offense…”
Harris v. State, 272 So. 3d 1201 (Ala. Crim. App. 2018). “The record shows that Harris moved the circuit court to charge the jury on the offense of endangering the welfare of a child as set out in § 13A-13-6, Ala. Code 1975. (C. 23.) The court expressed concerns whether endangering the welfare of a child was a lesser-included offense…”
State v. Woodard, 631 So. 2d 1065 (Ala. Crim. App. 1993). “rsons under 17 years of age involved in obscene acts); § 13A-12-196 (prohibiting parents or guardians from permitting children to engage in production of obscene matter); § 13A-12-197 (prohibiting the production of obscene matter depicting persons under 17 years of age involved…”
JLN v. State, 894 So. 2d 751 (Ala. 2004). “'s house, the victim's mother was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, in violation of § 13A-13-6, Ala.Code 1975. [4] J.L.N. does not allege, nor does he cite any legal authority for the proposition, that he has a constitutional right to cohabit, outside of marriage,…”
— Ala. Code § 13A-13-6(a)(1) — 2 cases
Harris v. State, 272 So. 3d 1201 (Ala. Crim. App. 2018). “The record shows that Harris moved the circuit court to charge the jury on the offense of endangering the welfare of a child as set out in § 13A-13-6, Ala. Code 1975. (C. 23.) The court expressed concerns whether endangering the welfare of a child was a lesser-included offense…”
Harris v. State, 272 So. 3d 1201 (Ala. Crim. App. 2018). “The record shows that Harris moved the circuit court to charge the jury on the offense of endangering the welfare of a child as set out in § 13A-13-6, Ala. Code 1975. (C. 23.) The court expressed concerns whether endangering the welfare of a child was a lesser-included offense…”
— Ala. Code § 13A-13-6(a)(2) — 2 cases
Harris v. State, 272 So. 3d 1201 (Ala. Crim. App. 2018). “The record shows that Harris moved the circuit court to charge the jury on the offense of endangering the welfare of a child as set out in § 13A-13-6, Ala. Code 1975. (C. 23.) The court expressed concerns whether endangering the welfare of a child was a lesser-included offense…”
Harris v. State, 272 So. 3d 1201 (Ala. Crim. App. 2018). “The record shows that Harris moved the circuit court to charge the jury on the offense of endangering the welfare of a child as set out in § 13A-13-6, Ala. Code 1975. (C. 23.) The court expressed concerns whether endangering the welfare of a child was a lesser-included offense…”
— Ala. Code § 13A-13-6(b) — 1 case
Hermanson v. State, 604 So. 2d 775 (Fla. 1992). “, and McDONALD, SHAW, GRIMES, KOGAN and HARDING, JJ., concur.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the
Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and
treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.