legal age

[Prophetess]

I was wondering if any of you know the legal age to leave a child home alone in california for short periods of time?

I've tried searching the internet and am not locating the right information.

thanks.

 

[Mr. S£im Citrus]

Well, unless you want to risk leaving yourself open to legal action, it's probably eighteen. Common sense says that's silly; you could make the case that any kid who's old enough to know how to dial 911, and has enough sense to not put his hand in an electrical socket is *technically* old enough to leave alone, depending on how long you intend to *leave* them alone.

I usually pick my son up after school, and he spends the evenings with me, until his mother gets off work. His mother lives a block and a half from his school, however, and when I get detained at work, he walks home by himself, and stays there until I come to get him...

He's eight years old, if that helps you any. Then again, I don't live in California.

 

[Evenstar]

my mom used to tell me it was 12 when i was younger.

i do remember staying alone when i was very young, around 8 or 9. i used to go walk home after school and i would be alone for a few hours. then again, i think my mom only allowed this becuase my dad worked 3 blocks away, so he was close enough if anything happened.

i think it's more about trusting your kids. there would be something official if it were a law i would imagine.

 

[VF21]

Here are a couple of sections from the California Welfare and Institutions Code:

305. Any peace officer may, without a warrant, take into temporary
custody a minor:
(a) When the officer has reasonable cause for believing that the
minor is a person described in Section 300, and, in addition, that
the minor has an immediate need for medical care, or the minor is in
immediate danger of physical or sexual abuse, or the physical
environment or the fact that the child is left unattended poses an
immediate threat to the child's health or safety. In cases in which
the child is left unattended, the peace officer shall first attempt
to contact the child's parent or guardian to determine if the parent
or guardian is able to assume custody of the child. If the parent or
guardian cannot be contacted, the peace officer shall notify a
social worker in the county welfare department to assume custody of
the child.
(b) Who is in a hospital and release of the minor to a parent
poses an immediate danger to the child's health or safety.
(c) Who is a dependent child of the juvenile court, or concerning
whom an order has been made under Section 319, when the officer has
reasonable cause for believing that the minor has violated an order
of the juvenile court or has left any placement ordered by the
juvenile court.
(d) Who is found in any street or public place suffering from any
sickness or injury which requires care, medical treatment,
hospitalization, or other remedial care.

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/calawquery?codesection=wic&codebody=Child+neglect&hits=20

Hope that helps.

 

[Bricklayer]

This is probably the clause Prophetess:

PENAL CODE
SECTION 270-273.75
271. Every parent of any child under the age of 14 years, and every
person to whom any such child has been confided for nurture, or
education, who deserts such child in any place whatever with intent
to abandon it, is punishable by imprisonment in the state prison or
in the county jail not exceeding one year or by fine not exceeding
one thousand dollars ($1,000) or by both.


So probably age 14, but I guess it depends what "short" is in your question, and whether it would be long enough to constitute "abandonment" in the statute.

 

[Prophetess]

thank you all

 

[Gargamel]

my mom used to tell me it was 12 when i was younger.

i do remember staying alone when i was very young, around 8 or 9. i used to go walk home after school and i would be alone for a few hours.

I think 7 was the earliest I've stayed home alone. By 8, not only did I stay home on purpose if an older sib forgot to wake me up, but I would also walk to Mickey D's or 7-Eleven if I could find any change laying around (and get the obligatory, "Shouldn't you be in school?").