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Illinois Compiled Statutes

720 ILCS 5/12C-5 (2026)

Endangering the life or health of a child

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(720 ILCS 5/12C-5) (was 720 ILCS 5/12-21.6)
    Sec. 12C-5. Endangering the life or health of a child.
    (a) A person commits endangering the life or health of a child when he or she knowingly: (1) causes or permits the life or health of a child under the age of 18 to be endangered; or (2) causes or permits a child to be placed in circumstances that endanger the child's life or health. It is not a violation of this Section for a person to relinquish a child in accordance with the Abandoned Newborn Infant Protection Act.
    (b) A trier of fact may infer that a child 6 years of age or younger is unattended if that child is left in a motor vehicle for more than 10 minutes.
    (c) "Unattended" means either: (i) not accompanied by a person 14 years of age or older; or (ii) if accompanied by a person 14 years of age or older, out of sight of that person.
    (d) Sentence. A violation of this Section is a Class A misdemeanor. A second or subsequent violation of this Section is a Class 3 felony. A violation of this Section that is a proximate cause of the death of the child is a Class 3 felony for which a person, if sentenced to a term of imprisonment, shall be sentenced to a term of not less than 2 years and not more than 10 years. A parent, who is found to be in violation of this Section with respect to his or her child, may be sentenced to probation for this offense pursuant to Section 12C-15.
(Source: P.A. 97-1109, eff. 1-1-13.)

    
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 48 cases (30 in the last 5 years), 2014–2026 · leading case: People v. Radford, 2020 IL 123975, 181 N.E.3d 78.
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People v. Radford, 2020 IL 123975, 181 N.E.3d 78. · cites it 2× “6 as section 12C-5); see also 720 ILCS 5/12C-5 (West 2014). However, at the time of defendant’s offense, and subsequent indictment, the child endangerment statute provided, in relevant part, “[i]t is unlawful for any person to willfully cause or permit the life or health of a…”
People v. Green, 2024 IL App (1st) 240211, 255 N.E.3d 314. · cites it 2× “720 ILCS 5/12C-5(a)(1), (d) (West 2022). The charges generally alleged that defendant left a loaded handgun where it was accessible to his three-year-old son.”
People v. Valdez, 2022 IL App (1st) 181463, 208 N.E.3d 526. · cites it 2× “6 (West 2010) (renumbered as 720 ILCS 5/12C-5 by Pub. Act 97-1109, § 1-5, (eff.”
People v. Presley, 2023 IL App (5th) 230970, 230 N.E.3d 214. “The notice was related to an uncharged claim of endangering the life or health of a child in violation of section 12C-5 of the Criminal Code of 2012 (Criminal Code) (720 ILCS 5/12C-5 (West 2022)). On April 28, 2023, in Moultrie County case No.”
People v. Castillo, 2024 IL App (1st) 232315. “¶2 BACKGROUND ¶3 Castillo was arrested on April 15, 2023, and charged with one count each of home invasion (720 ILCS 5/19-6(a)(2)) (West 2022)), battery (720 ILCS 5/12-3(a)(1) (West 2022)), and child endangerment (720 ILCS 5/12C-5(a)(1) (West 2022)). The State amended their…”
People v. Rudell, 2017 IL App (1st) 152772, 78 N.E.3d 541. · cites it 3× “720 ILCS 5/12C-5(a) (West 2014). Further, “[a] trier of fact may infer that a child 6 years of age or younger is unattended if that child is left in a motor vehicle for more than 10 minutes.”
People v. Ford, 2020 IL App (2d) 200252, 181 N.E.3d 944. “’s death (720 ILCS 5/12C-5(a)(1) (West 2016) (case No.”
People v. Penning, 2021 IL App (3d) 190366, 189 N.E.3d 958. “” 720 ILCS 5/12C-5(a) (West 2018). When a defendant is charged in the alternative with child endangerment under both subsections (1) and (2), evidence of an actual injury is not required.”
People v. Radford, 2018 IL App (3d) 140404, 117 N.E.3d 386. “¶ 45 At its core, defendant's challenge argues that the jury reached inconsistent verdicts.”
People v. Rowell, 2020 IL App (4th) 190231. “08 (625 ILCS 5/11-501(a)(1) (West 2018)), driving under the influence (DUI) (625 ILCS 5/11-501(a)(2)(West 2018)), and endangering the life or health of a child (720 ILCS 5/12C-5 (West 2018)) in a companion case.”
People v. Rudell, 2017 IL App (1st) 152772. · cites it 3× “” 720 ILCS 5/12C-5(b) (West 2014). ¶ 26 Rudell begins by arguing that the evidence against her was insufficient, having been based solely on her drunken confession to police.”
People v. Espinoza, 2015 IL 118218, 43 N.E.3d 993. “¶8 Defendant Angela Disera was charged with endangering the life or health of a child (720 ILCS 5/12C-5 (West 2012)). Specifically, the criminal complaint alleged that Disera committed the offense of endangering the life or health of a child “in that, said defendant willfully…”
Show all 48 citing cases →
720 ILCS 5/12C-5(a): 16 cases
People v. Radford, 2020 IL 123975, 181 N.E.3d 78. “6 as section 12C-5); see also 720 ILCS 5/12C-5 (West 2014). However, at the time of defendant’s offense, and subsequent indictment, the child endangerment statute provided, in relevant part, “[i]t is unlawful for any person to willfully cause or permit the life or health of a…”
People v. Penning, 2021 IL App (3d) 190366, 189 N.E.3d 958. “” 720 ILCS 5/12C-5(a) (West 2018). When a defendant is charged in the alternative with child endangerment under both subsections (1) and (2), evidence of an actual injury is not required.”
People v. Rudell, 2017 IL App (1st) 152772, 78 N.E.3d 541. “720 ILCS 5/12C-5(a) (West 2014). Further, “[a] trier of fact may infer that a child 6 years of age or younger is unattended if that child is left in a motor vehicle for more than 10 minutes.”
People v. Sykes, 2017 IL App (1st) 150023.
People v. Dominguez, 2016 IL App (2d) 150872, 64 N.E.3d 1191.
720 ILCS 5/12C-5(a)(1): 18 cases
People v. Green, 2024 IL App (1st) 240211, 255 N.E.3d 314. “720 ILCS 5/12C-5(a)(1), (d) (West 2022). The charges generally alleged that defendant left a loaded handgun where it was accessible to his three-year-old son.”
People v. Castillo, 2024 IL App (1st) 232315. “¶2 BACKGROUND ¶3 Castillo was arrested on April 15, 2023, and charged with one count each of home invasion (720 ILCS 5/19-6(a)(2)) (West 2022)), battery (720 ILCS 5/12-3(a)(1) (West 2022)), and child endangerment (720 ILCS 5/12C-5(a)(1) (West 2022)). The State amended their…”
People v. Ford, 2020 IL App (2d) 200252, 181 N.E.3d 944. “’s death (720 ILCS 5/12C-5(a)(1) (West 2016) (case No.”
People v. Baker, 2022 IL App (4th) 200637-U.
In re Z.S., 2025 IL App (1st) 250228-U.
720 ILCS 5/12C-5(a)(2): 7 cases
People v. Schopoff, 2025 IL App (1st) 230648-U.
People v. Potts, 2020 IL App (4th) 170256-U.
Walker v. City of Aurora, No. 1:22-cv-02857 (N.D. Ill. July 25, 2025).
City of Lake Forest v. Burgin, 2023 IL App (2d) 220338-U.
People v. Collins, 2021 IL App (2d) 190887-U.
720 ILCS 5/12C-5(b): 2 cases
People v. Rudell, 2017 IL App (1st) 152772, 78 N.E.3d 541. “720 ILCS 5/12C-5(a) (West 2014). Further, “[a] trier of fact may infer that a child 6 years of age or younger is unattended if that child is left in a motor vehicle for more than 10 minutes.”
People v. Rudell, 2017 IL App (1st) 152772. “” 720 ILCS 5/12C-5(b) (West 2014). ¶ 26 Rudell begins by arguing that the evidence against her was insufficient, having been based solely on her drunken confession to police.”
720 ILCS 5/12C-5(d): 3 cases
In re A.W., 2024 IL App (1st) 221700-U.
People v. Stroud, 2023 IL App (2d) 220306, 237 N.E.3d 1001.
People v. Honore, 2021 IL App (5th) 190184-U.
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