Legal Definitions - control-your-kid law

A control-your-kid law, also known as a parental-responsibility statute, is a law that holds parents responsible for the actions of their minor children. If a minor child commits a crime due to the parents' failure to exercise sufficient control over them, the parents may face criminal sanctions such as fines.

For example, if a parent allows their underage child to drink alcohol and the child gets into a car accident while driving under the influence, the parent may be held responsible for any damages or injuries caused by the child.

Another example is if a parent fails to supervise their child and the child vandalizes property or steals from a store, the parent may be fined or face other legal consequences.

These examples illustrate how a control-your-kid law works by holding parents accountable for their children's actions and encouraging them to take responsibility for their parenting.