North Dakota Code § 14-09-22

Abuse of child - Mandatory sentence - Penalty
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1. Except as provided in subsection 2 or 3, a parent, adult family or household member, 
guardian, or other custodian of any child, who willfully inflicts or allows to be inflicted 
upon the child mental injury or bodily injury, substantial bodily injury, or serious bodily 
injury as defined by section 12.1 -01-04 is guilty of a class C felony except if the victim 
of an offense under this section is under the age of six years in which case the offense 
is a class B felony. For purposes of this subsection, "mental injury" means an 
observable and substantial, nontransitory impairment to a child's mental or 
psychological ability to function within a normal range of performance or behavior.
2. A person who provides care, supervision, education, or guidance for a child 
unaccompanied by the child's parent, adult family or household member, guardian, or 
custodian in exchange for money, goods, or other services and who while providing 
such services commits an offense under this section is guilty of a class B felony. Any 
such person who commits, allows to be committed, or conspires to commit, against the 
child, a sex offense as defined in chapter 12.1 -20 is subject to the penalties provided 
in that chapter.
3. A person who commits an offense under this section is guilty of a class B felony if the 
victim suffers permanent loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member or 
organ, except if the victim of the offense is under the age of six years in which case the 
offense is a class A felony.
4. A person who has pled guilty or nolo contendere to, or has been found guilty of an 
offense under this section must be sentenced to a minimum of one year imprisonment.
5. For any person who pleads guilty or is convicted of an offense under this section, the 
court shall include in the sentence an order for the person to complete a parental 
capacity evaluation, mental health evaluation, and anger management assessment, 
and to complete treatment recommendations as ordered by the court as a condition of 
probation.

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