An adult babysitter was angry at the 7-year-old for whom she was caring. She punished him by making him stand in a closed closet knowing he was afraid of the dark. What crime, if any, occurred?

• A. No crime
• B. Child harm, injury, or endangerment
• C. False imprisonment
• D. Assault

Answer: (B)

Caregivers have a duty to protect a child’s safety and well-being. Placing a 7-year-old in a closed closet while he’s afraid of the dark exposes him to fear and potential danger, which fits the idea of harming, injuring, or endangering a child’s welfare. The focus is on the risk to the child and the emotional and potential physical harm that can come from such an act, not on hitting or threatening him. It’s not about the legal definition of assault, which involves contact or threats of contact, and while confinement could be relevant to false imprisonment in some contexts, the stronger fit here is endangering the child’s welfare.