Department of Children & Families v. E.D.-o.

Judge CUFF

(temporarily assigned) delivered the opinion of the Court.

All too frequently we hear of a parent who left a child unattended in a motor vehicle. In some instances the outcome has been tragic. Yet, even when no harm comes to the child, the parent still may be charged with a criminal offense or, if such action is warranted, the matter may be referred to the relevant child welfare agency. This is one of the latter cases.

In this appeal, on a morning in early May 2009, a mother left her sleeping nineteen-month-old child unattended for approximately ten minutes in a locked motor vehicle…