Call or Message Us 24/7  702-333-1600
Criminal Law A to Z
In this section, our attorneys explain Nevada’s criminal laws and legal concepts, A to Z
Crimes by NRS Section
Every crime in Nevada is based in a section of the Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS). For each crime, our attorneys explain the laws, penalties and best defenses to fight the charge.
Nevada DUI
Getting arrested for DUI does not mean you will be convicted. Police misconduct, defective breathalyzers and crime lab mistakes may be enough to get your charges lessened or dismissed. Visit our page on Nevada DUI Laws to learn more.
     Popular Topics
Post-Conviction
Even if you’ve already been convicted of a crime, there is still much you can do to seal your record and restore your rights. Our attorneys explain how.
                 Get Quick Legal Help...
This form is encrypted and protected by attorney-client confidentiality.
 Name \*    Phone \*    Email \*    City where case is located \*    Tell us what happened    Please attach any citations, booking sheets, police reports or other relevant documents.  Attach another file if needed.  Attach another file if needed.  Attach another file if needed.  Attach another file if needed.
Δ
                !            »  » NRS 201.110 - Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor
# “Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor” – Nevada Law
  !
Nevada law makes it a crime to **contribute to the delinquency of a minor**. Specifically, this means causing a person under the age of 18 to:
1. beg in public, be destitute, be homeless, or live in a brothel or other unfit home;
2. have no adult supervision, be in the company of criminals, or in a saloon;
3. take drugs or alcohol or otherwise break the law; or
4. miss school habitually or lead an idle or immoral life.
An **NRS 201.110** violation is a  with maximum punishments of:
* 6 months in jail, and/or
* $1,000
It may be possible to have **contributory delinquency** charges dismissed or reduced as part of a . Typical defense arguments include:
* You were the victim of false accusations,
* There was no delinquency, or
* Your behavior was legally protected
!
The **full text of the statute** reads:
> *NRS 201.110.  1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, any person who commits any act or omits the performance of any duty, which act or omission causes or tends to **cause or encourage** any person under the **age of 18** to become a “neglected child,” “child in need of supervision” or “**delinquent child**,” as defined in NRS 201.090, 201.100 and 201.110 or which act or omission contributes thereto, or any person who, by any act or omission, or by threats, command or persuasion, induces or endeavors to induce any person under the age of 18 to perform any act or to follow any course of conduct or to so live as would cause or manifestly tend to cause any such person to become or to remain a person who is a “neglected child,” “child in need of supervision” or “delinquent child,” as defined in NRS 201.090, is guilty of contributory neglect or **contributory delinquency**. Contributory neglect or contributory delinquency is a **misdemeanor**.*
>
> *2. A person does not commit a violation of subsection 1 by virtue of the sole fact that the person delivers or induces the delivery of a child to a provider of **emergency services** pursuant to NRS 432B.630.*
In this article, our  discuss:
## 1. What is “contributing to the delinquency of a minor”?
It is a Nevada crime to contribute to a child’s delinquent behavior or neglect. Specifically, you face contributory delinquency charges for causing a child (under 18 years old) to be in any of the following 14 situations:
1. begging on the street or other public place;
2. having no parent or guardian exercising proper parental control;
3. being destitute or without life necessities;
4. living in a home that is unfit for a child;
5. living in a brothel;
6. being homeless;
7. keeping the company of criminals or vagrants;
8. visiting a saloon;
9. consuming alcohol or drugs;
10. refusing to obey the child’s parents’ or guardians’ reasonable orders;
11. being habitually truant from school;
12. leading an idle, dissolute, lewd, or immoral life;
13. conducting themself in an indecent or immoral way; or
14. breaking the law1
Note that  is different than , which typically involves causing physical, sexual or mental harm.2
### Safe Haven Laws
Note that Nevada’s “safe haven” laws permit you to lawfully leave babies no older than 30 days with either a(n):
* hospital, an obstetric center, or an independent center for emergency medical care licensed pursuant to  of NRS;
* public fire-fighting agency, including, without limitation, a volunteer fire department;
* law enforcement agency (such as a police or sheriff’s department);
* ambulance service that holds a permit issued pursuant to the provisions of  of NRS; or
* agency that provides child welfare services.
If you safely surrender your 30-day-old or younger infants at any of these “havens,” you will not face criminal prosecution for contributory delinquency.3
NRS 201.110 makes it a misdemeanor to contribute to the delinquency of a minor.
## 2. What are the penalties?
As a misdemeanor, contributing to the delinquency of a minor carries a sentence of:
* up to six (6) months in jail, and/or
* up to $1,000 in fines4
It is rare for judges to order jail for a first-time misdemeanor offense. However, since these situations involve child welfare, judges may be less open to letting you off with only a fine. Therefore, you should retain legal counsel to fight the charges and negotiate for the best possible resolution.
Since contributing to the delinquency of a minor is only a misdemeanor, it is a favorable offense to  down to: For instance,  carries harsher penalties than contributory delinquency, and prosecutors may be willing to reduce child endangerment to contributory delinquency in some cases.
## 3. How do I fight the charges?
The best way to fight contributory delinquency charges turns on the facts of the case. Some common defenses include:
1. You were falsely accused
2. There was no delinquency
3. Your behavior was legally protected
### You Were Falsely Accused
Sometimes, the police arrest the wrong person by accident. Sometimes, people — especially angry children or exes — deliberately accuse an innocent person out of revenge.
We would investigate the situation and compile evidence — such as past communications and recordings — to show that the accuser may have had a reason to lie and that you did nothing wrong. If the D.A. fails to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, the charge should be dropped.
### There Was No Delinquency
“Bad” or “lazy” parenting does not necessarily equate with contributing to a child’s delinquency. For instance:
* Feeding a child processed or junk food is *not* contributing to them being without life’s necessities; or
* Letting a child watch TV all day is *not* contributing to them leading an immoral life.
Just because a child has undesirable habits does not make them delinquent. If the police had hastily arrested you on NRS 201.110 charges, we would have gathered evidence to show that nothing you did rose to the level of contributory delinquency.
### Your Behavior Was Legally Protected
Police may be over-zealous in arresting adults who appear to be contributing to child delinquency but are really just exercising their rights to inflict reasonable punishment. For example, it is perfectly legal in Nevada for you to punish your children by:
* sending them to their room,
* not letting them participate in certain activities, or
* depriving them of one dinner.
In these situations, we would argue that nothing in NRS 201.110’s text applies to your actions. The prosecutor may agree then to drop the charges.
## 4. When can the record be sealed?
There is a one (1) year waiting period to get an NRS 201.110 conviction sealed. Note that the waiting period begins after the case ends, not after the initial arrest or guilty verdict.5
There is no waiting period to get a record seal if the NRS 201.110 case gets dismissed (meaning there is no conviction). However, the  itself takes several months.6
Contributing to juvenile delinquency carries up to $1,000 in fines and/or six months in jail.
## 5. Are there immigration consequences?
Even though contributory delinquency is a misdemeanor, a non-citizen convicted of violating NRS 201.110 could still be deported if the court considers the offense to be a crime of moral turpitude.
Therefore, any alien suspected of contributory delinquency should retain an experienced attorney right away who may be able to get the charge dismissed or changed to a non-deportable offense.7
## 6. Related Offenses
### Furnishing Alcohol to a Person Under 21
You can be charged with  for either:
* selling or giving alcohol to an underage person;
* leaving alcohol in a place with the intent that an underage person will retrieve it; or
* giving money to an underage person knowing the person will use that money to get alcohol
This offense is a misdemeanor carrying up to six (6) months in jail and/or up to $1,000 in fines.8
### Aiding a Child to Possess a Gun
 without lawful permission and supervision is a crime. (In some situations, there are exceptions involving hunting, training, or the military.)
Letting a non-violent child have a gun is a misdemeanor carrying up to six (6) months in jail and/or up to $1,000 in fines. If the child is violent, furnishing the child with a gun is a .9
### Leaving a Child Unattended in a Car
Nevada prohibits leaving a child under eight (8) years old in an automobile if the keys are in the ignition or the conditions are potentially hazardous unless a person age twelve (12) or older is actively supervising the child.
As a misdemeanor,  carries up to six (6) months in jail and/or up to $1,000 in fines.10
### Luring a Child
Nevada law prohibits contacting a child under sixteen (16) years old and more than five (5) years younger than you with the intent to take the child away without the guardian’s consent. If the purpose of the luring was sexual, the child’s age is irrelevant: All that matters is that you believed the victim was under 16 and at least 5 years younger.
 can be a  or a felony.11
## Additional Reading
For more in-depth information, refer to these scholarly articles:
*  – *Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal.*
*  – *Journal of Psychology*.
*  – *Akron Law Review*.
*  – *American Institute of Criminal Law & Criminology.*
*  – *St. Louis University Law Journal*.
---
#### Legal References
1. NRS 201.110. See .
     “Neglected child,” “delinquent child” and “child in need of supervision” defined. As used in NRS 201.100 and 201.110, unless the context otherwise requires, a “neglected child,” “delinquent child” or “child in need of supervision” means any person less than 18 years of age:
    1. Who is found begging, receiving or gathering alms, or who is found in any street, road or public place for the purpose of so doing, whether actually begging or doing so under the pretext of selling or offering for sale any article, or of singing or playing on any musical instrument, or of giving any public entertainment or accompanying or being used in aid of any person so doing.
    2. Who has no parent or guardian, who has no parent or guardian willing to exercise or capable of exercising proper parental control, or who has no parent or guardian actually exercising such proper parental control, and who is in need of such control.
    3. Who is destitute, or who is not provided with the necessities of life by his or her parents, and who has no other means of obtaining such necessities.
    4. Whose home is an unfit place for the child, by reason of neglect, cruelty or depravity of either of his or her parents, or of his or her guardians or other person in whose custody or care the child is.
    5. Who is found living in any house of ill fame, or with any disreputable person.
    6. Who is found wandering and either has no home, no settled place of abode, no visible means of subsistence or no proper guardianship.
    7. Who frequents the company of criminals, vagrants or prostitutes, or persons so reputed, or who is in any house of prostitution or assignation.
    8. Who unlawfully visits a saloon where any spirituous, vinous or malt liquors are sold, bartered, exchanged or given away.
    9. Who habitually uses intoxicating liquors or who uses opium, cocaine, morphine, or other similar drug without the direction of a competent physician.
    10. Who persistently or habitually refuses to obey the reasonable and proper orders or directions of his or her parents, guardian or custodian, or who is beyond the control of such person.
    11. Who is a habitual truant from school.
    12. Who is leading, or from any cause is in danger of leading, an idle, dissolute, lewd or immoral life.
    13. Who writes or uses vile, obscene, profane or indecent language, or is guilty of indecent, immoral or lascivious conduct.
    14. Who violates any law of this State or any ordinance of any town, city or county of this State defining crime.–> Any child who is a runaway, unmanageable or a habitual truant is a child in need of supervision as that term is used in title 5 of NRS, and is not a delinquent child.NRS 201.100 How offense may be termed. When the charge against any person under NRS 201.090, 201.100 and 201.110 concerns the neglect of a child or children, or the problems of a child in need of supervision, the offense, for convenience, may be termed “contributory neglect,” and when it concerns the delinquency of a child or children, for convenience it may be termed “contributory delinquency.”
    See, for example: ; .
2. NRS 200.508.
3. NRS 201.110. NRS 432B.630 (“The Safe Haven Infant Protection Act”).
4. Id.
5. .
6. NRS 179.255.
7. 8 U.S.C. § 1227.
8. NRS 202.055.
9. NRS 202.300.
10. NRS 202.575.
        Featured on  ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
## LAS VEGAS DEFENSE GROUP
 4.9        709 reviews
Las Vegas Defense Group excels in helping individuals fight traffic tickets with professionalism and expertise. Their team of experienced attorneys provides personalized attention and effective strategies to achieve favorable outcomes. Clients appreciate their thorough understanding of traffic laws and their commitment to protecting clients' driving records and rights. The process is streamlined and stress-free, with clear communication and support at every step.
Matt C.
From the first call this office has been nothing but welcoming and supportive. Yuritza has gone above and beyond with all of my needs and getting everything ready for my amazing, funny and Smart Case manager Christopher Joya. The office is beautiful 😍 organized and can I say squeaky clean. Oh they offer you snacks too while waiting. Can we talk about hospitality. I 100% recommend this Amazing group.
Jaquelin A.
What life savers!! Walking into Las Vegas Defense Group saved me. Carole was fantastic and willingly assisted me by putting me at ease and quickly setting me up with a case manager. I must admit, the office was great (and the coffee and snacks helped a lot too). I definitely would recommend their services to anyone with traffic violations, DUI’s, or more serious criminal offenses.
Michel D.   
            Call us (702) 333-1600
### We Can Help You Fight Back
Being accused of a crime, or arrested, does not necessarily mean you will be convicted. Our Las Vegas criminal defense lawyers have helped many people avoid conviction, avoid jail, and keep their records clean.
Copyright © 2025 Las Vegas Defense Group - Criminal & DUI Attorneys, LLC
   !
#### Follow us on Social
## Message Us
Please complete the form below and we will contact you momentarily.
                 Contact Our Firm
            Call or Message Us 24/7
* (702) 333-1600