Irresponsible family members - mad

[Lemon666]

My DB and SIL have just left their two kids (11 and 12 years old) home alone for three days. They went 10 hours drive from home.

[annandale]

Sounds very like UK law Across.

[StrawberryTeaLeaf]

So your DB and his DW are home from their trip now?

[AcrossthePond55]

I'm in CA. The law on that is somewhat weird. Technically leaving a child home alone is not illegal in and of itself, BUT you can still be prosecuted for child endangerment and/or child abuse. And in some municipalities leaving a child home alone overnight is considered 'de facto' endangering a child. Note that nothing bad has to actually happen for someone to be convicted of child endangerment. The child just has to be placed in a situation where it could happen. (California Penal Code 273a PC). If the child is actually harmed, that's considered child abuse.

So your relatives are technically right in that it's not illegal to leave them alone, but they could still be prosecuted for child endangerment if someone turns them in.

If the police were called they probably would take the children into care simply to avoid liability if they were to leave them and then something happened. Whether or not they'd prosecute the parents, who knows, but it wouldn't surprise me.

[mrsjanedoe]

Poor kids, they do get scared being alone at that age. It's very sad. I am not sure what you can do from abroad.

[upaladderagain]

Good grief, that's appalling. Children that age may be ok home alone for a couple of hours, but DAYS!! If there was any sort of emergency how on earth would they know what to do and how to cope?
Db and his wife need a good talking to.
If it's not illegal it's certainly irresponsible and ill advised.

[eastwest]

I mean, what I understood from the OP is that the parents have gone away, left them, and come back again - so the kids are not alone any longer.

[eastwest]

I think the OP means that they have already done it. They are not planning to do it, they have already left the kids alone. If it is legal, telling the police after the fact will have no effect, because they'll have no grounds for concern.
I suppose one can only be grateful that nothing awful happened.

[Unreasonablebetty]

Lemon, it doesn't matter if they do it again, it matters that these children are currently in a situation that isn't safe for them.
They are unable to take care of themselves.
Call the American police. Give over the address. And sleep better tonight knowing you have done right by your niece and nephew-- something that no one else seems to be doing.

[ForChina]

Poor little kids.

[GruntledOne]

Even if it's legal, wouldn't the police take an interest in checking that they'e safe?

[Lemon666]

The problem is with ringing is that we don't have enough contact with them to anticipate if they'll do it again.

[Spilose]

Stop telling us and tell the police.

[Lemon666]

They said that they were home alone all weekend. I barely speak to them, my parents have told me because they are upset about it.

It's just so they can have time alone... why have kids?

[TurnOffTheTv]

So there is definitely no adult with them overnight?

[steff13]

I'd call social services anyway. In my state, there's no "official" age at which it's legal to leave kids home alone; it's supposed to be common sense and what is considered reasonable. Authorities here would be unlikely to consider this reasonable...

[Lemon666]

They may have friends popping in and they're close to their neighbours.

[annandale]

I wouldn't cut off contact with them because I think the kids need their extended family to stay in touch.

Can you find an excuse to send the children a card each in the next few days/weeks? With your phone number on it maybe? See if you can speak to them next time you're in touch? just let them know you are around.

[TurnOffTheTv]

But surely you can just ring the local police just for clarification? They might go and check on them?

[Pipbin]

You are right, it seems it's not illegal, ages differ depending on the state.
everydaylife.globalpost.com/child-home-alone-laws-california-3166.html

Are you sure there was no one looking after them?

[Lemon666]

Because they told my parents tonight.

[Lemon666]

I've looked into it, it's not illegal.

[Lemon666]

Apparently they can cook and fend for themselves. Never known such selfish people. Seriously finished with them. I'm at the point where I don't want to speak to them again

[Pipbin]

Presuming that you are too far away to go there, and therefore haven't seen them, how do you know?

[TurnOffTheTv]

I'd ring the local police department to them and get advice

[TurnOffTheTv]

I'm sure there will still be some authorities you can contact, child services?