Under California Penal Code 273a PC, child endangerment has three elements: 1) You did one of the following: a) Willfully inflicted unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering on a child. The law defines “unjustifiable” as not reasonably necessary, or “excessive under the circumstances.” b) Willfully caused or permitted a child to suffer unjustifiable physical pain or mental suffering on a child. c) While having care or custody of child, willfully caused or permitted or caused a child’s person or health to be injured. d) While having care or custody of child, willfully caused or permitted the child to be placed in a position where the child’s person or health was in danger. 2) You were criminally negligent when you allowed the child to suffer. Criminal negligence is acting in a way that is a “gross departure” from the way a careful person would act, in disregard for human life or the consequences of your actions, which a reasonable person would understand would result in harm to others. 3) If you were the child’s parent, you were not reasonably disciplining the child. Despite what many may think, corporal punishment is legal in California. This includes spanking, confinement or sending a child to their room without a meal.