Legal Definitions - parental-responsibility statute

A parental-responsibility statute is a law that holds parents accountable for the actions of their minor children. This law imposes criminal sanctions, such as fines, on parents who fail to exercise sufficient control over their children, resulting in their children committing crimes.

For example, if a minor child commits vandalism or theft, the parents may be held responsible if it is found that they did not take reasonable steps to prevent their child from engaging in such behavior. Another example is if a minor child is caught drinking or using drugs, the parents may be fined if it is found that they did not take appropriate measures to prevent their child from accessing these substances.

These examples illustrate how parental-responsibility statutes aim to encourage parents to take an active role in their children's lives and ensure that they are not engaging in illegal or harmful activities.