by Attorney Eric D. PuryearIowa Code section 709A.1 makes it a crime for an adult to contribute to delinquency of a minor child. That section of the Iowa code provides that It shall be unlawful:
1. To encourage any child under eighteen years of age to commit any act of delinquency defined in chapter 232.
2. To knowingly send, cause to be sent, or induce to go, any child under the age of eighteen to any of the following:
a. A brothel or other premises used for the purposes of prostitution, with the intent that the child engage the services of a
prostitute.
b. An unlicensed premises where alcoholic liquor, wine, or beer is unlawfully sold or kept for sale.
c. Any premises the use of which constitutes a violation of chapter 717A, or section 725.5 or 725.10.
3. To knowingly encourage, contribute, or in any manner cause such child to violate any law of this state, or any ordinance of any city.
4. To knowingly permit, encourage, or cause such child to be guilty of any vicious or immoral conduct.
5. For a parent willfully to fail to support the parent’s child under eighteen years of age whom the parent has a legal obligation to support.
Contributing to the delinquency of a child in Iowa is a simple misdemeanor, punishable by up to 30 days in the county jail.
Iowa law also allows a person to be charged with a more serious crime in addition to the charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. For example, if an adult is accused of using a child a part of a burglary, the adult can be charged with both burglary and contributing to the delinquency of a child.
Often, there may be a DHS investigation or CINA case that accompanies a charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor charge in Iowa. All such cases are important to handle properly, due to the potential criminal penalties and other consequences. For that reason, a person accused of contributing to the delinquency of a child is well advised to exercise their right to remain silent, and seek an attorney at once.