Maine § 17-A §553 Abandonment of child

Maine Statutes

§ 17-A §553 — Abandonment of child

Maine § 17-A §553

Title 17-AMAINE CRIMINAL CODE

Part 2SUBSTANTIVE OFFENSES

Ch. 23OFFENSES AGAINST THE FAMILY

This text of Maine § 17-A §553 (Abandonment of child) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Maine primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 17-A, § 17-A §553 (2026).

Text

1.A person is guilty of abandonment of a child if, being a parent, guardian or other person legally charged with the long-term care and custody of a child or being a person to whom the long-term care and custody of a child has been expressly delegated: 2.

3.It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this section that, at the time the offense occurred:

4.It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this section that the person had voluntarily placed the child with a person, agency or medical facility and the placement resulted from communication between the person or the person's agent and the Department of Health and Human Services and health care professionals with the purpose of securing a placement that is in the best interests of the child.

5.It is an affirmative de

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1.
A person is guilty of abandonment of a child if, being a parent, guardian or other person legally charged with the long-term care and custody of a child or being a person to whom the long-term care and custody of a child has been expressly delegated:
2.
3.
It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this section that, at the time the offense occurred:
4.
It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this section that the person had voluntarily placed the child with a person, agency or medical facility and the placement resulted from communication between the person or the person's agent and the Department of Health and Human Services and health care professionals with the purpose of securing a placement that is in the best interests of the child.
5.
It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under subsection 1, paragraph C or D that the person, due to the incarceration, military service, medical treatment or incapacity of the person, temporarily placed the child or transferred the physical custody of the child for a designated short-term period with a specific intent and time period for the return of the child.

Legislative History

PL 1975, c. 499, §1 (NEW). PL 1995, c. 694, §C2 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 694, §E2 (AFF). PL 2001, c. 383, §§68,69 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 383, §156 (AFF). PL 2001, c. 543, §1 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 343, §1 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 274, §§1, 2 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 466, §1 (AMD).