KY Supreme Court Clarifies Child Neglect

It all begIn a significant opinion, the Kentucky Supreme Court reversed a Court of Appeals decision and reinstated a finding of child neglect in 2024-SC-0188-DGE. The case turned on whether a father’s substance use—particularly driving under the influence of marijuana—placed his six-year-old child at a substantial risk of harm. By clarifying the application of KRS 600.020 to these circumstances, the Court underscored that even without proven physical injury, endangering a minor’s safety through impaired driving can justify a child neglect determination.