Legal Definitions - failure-to-supervise statute

A failure-to-supervise statute is a law that holds parents responsible for the actions of their minor children. This means that if a child commits a tort (especially an intentional one), the parents can be required to pay damages. All states have these laws, but most limit the parents' monetary liability to about $3,000 per tort. Parents can also be held criminally liable for the acts of their children.

For example, if a child vandalizes someone's property, the parents may be held responsible for paying for the damages. Similarly, if a child commits a crime with a firearm that was provided by their parent, the parent may be charged with a felony.

The first law aimed at punishing parents for the acts of their children was enacted in Colorado in 1903. By 1961, all but two states had enacted similar laws. These laws are aimed at improper supervision and failure to supervise, meaning that parents are expected to keep an eye on their children and prevent them from engaging in harmful behavior.