Northern Virginia Criminal Justice Academy (NVCJA) Practice Exam

What charge should an officer bring against a mother who refuses to take her bleeding son to the hospital?

1. Child endangerment

2. Failing to secure medical attention for an injured child

3. Assault and battery

4. Neglect

The correct answer is: Failing to secure medical attention for an injured child

The most appropriate charge in this situation is failing to secure medical attention for an injured child. This charge directly addresses the mother's legal obligation to ensure her child's safety and well-being, especially in the face of a medical emergency such as severe bleeding. When a mother is aware of her child's condition and consciously decides not to seek necessary medical help, it reflects a clear neglect of her responsibilities as a caregiver. Child endangerment could also be applicable, as it involves putting a child's health and safety at risk. However, failing to secure medical attention more specifically highlights the action—or inaction—of the mother in this critical scenario, making it a focused charge for failure to act in a way that protects her child's immediate health. Assault and battery are typically associated with intentional acts of harm against another person, which does not align with the scenario posed. Neglect is a broader term and might encompass the behavior shown by the mother but does not pinpoint the failure to secure medical care as directly as the other charge does.