Legal Definitions - failure to protect

Definition: Failure to protect refers to the failure or inability of a parent or guardian to prevent abuse of a child under their care in family law.

Example: If a mother knows that her partner is physically abusing their child but does nothing to stop it, she is guilty of failure to protect.

Explanation: In this example, the mother is aware of the abuse but fails to take any action to protect the child. This is a clear case of failure to protect.

Example: A father who leaves his young child alone at home for extended periods of time without proper supervision is also guilty of failure to protect.

Explanation: In this example, the father is not physically abusing the child, but he is neglecting his duty to provide proper care and supervision. This neglect can also be considered a form of failure to protect.