# K.S.A. § 21-5602: 21-5602 - Abuse of a child

> Kansas · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A56_S21-5602

## Section

- **Citation:** K.S.A. § 21-5602
- **Heading:** 21-5602 - Abuse of a child
- **Jurisdiction:** Kansas
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** KS Code / Chapter 21 / Article 56 / Section 21-5602

## Text

21-5602. Abuse of a child. (a) Abuse of a child is committing any of the following acts against a child under 18 years of age:

(1) (A) Knowingly torturing, cruelly beating, cruelly striking or cruelly kicking;

(B) knowingly inflicting cruel and inhuman corporal punishment; or

(C) knowingly using cruel and inhuman physical restraint, including caging or confining the child in a space not designated for human habitation or binding the child in a way that is not medically necessary;

(2) recklessly causing great bodily harm, abusive head trauma, permanent disability or disfigurement; or

(3) (A) knowingly causing great bodily harm, abusive head trauma, permanent disability or disfigurement;

(B) knowingly inflicting cruel and inhuman corporal punishment with a deadly weapon; or

(C) knowingly impeding the normal breathing or circulation of the blood by applying pressure on the throat, neck or chest of the child or by blocking the nose or mouth of the child in a manner whereby death or great bodily harm could be inflicted.

(b) Abuse of a child as defined in:

(1) Subsection (a)(1) is a:

(A) Severity level 5, person felony if the child is at least six years of age but less than 18 years of age; and

(B) severity level 3, person felony if the child is under six years of age;

(2) subsection (a)(2) is a severity level 4, person felony; and

(3) subsection (a)(3) is a severity level 3, person felony.

## Nearby sections

- [K.S.A. § 21-5601 21-5601 - Endangering a child; aggravated endangering a child.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A56_S21-5601.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5602 21-5602 - Abuse of a child.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A56_S21-5602.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5603 21-5603 - Contributing to a child's misconduct or deprivation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A56_S21-5603.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5604 21-5604 - Incest; aggravated incest.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A56_S21-5604.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5605 21-5605 - Abandonment of a child; aggravated abandonment of a child.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A56_S21-5605.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5606 21-5606 - Criminal nonsupport.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A56_S21-5606.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5607 21-5607 - Furnishing alcoholic liquor or cereal malt beverage to a minor; furnishing alcoholic beverage to a minor for illicit purposes.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A56_S21-5607.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5608 21-5608 - Unlawfully hosting minors consuming alcoholic liquor or cereal malt beverage.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A56_S21-5608.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5609 21-5609 - Bigamy.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A56_S21-5609.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5610 21-5610 - Unlawful possession of a visual depiction of a child.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A56_S21-5610.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5611 21-5611 - Unlawful transmission of a visual depiction of a child.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A56_S21-5611.md)
- [K.S.A. § 21-5612 21-5612 - Promoting travel for child exploitation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A56_S21-5612.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_KS_C21_A56_S21-5602. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.