One of the most common child neglect scenarios involves parents leaving their kids alone — either at home or other places — while they go out, usually to drink and party.

• In Devils Lake, North Dakota, two people face charges after allegedly leaving a two year old child alone in a motel room. Jodie Blockboy, 22, and Martin Thumb, 38, are accused of locking the toddler in the room, then going to the motel bar and getting drunk. The two were charged with felony child abuse and neglect. (USA Today, 2-23-2012, pg 4A)
• In Bismarck, North Dakota, a man accused of leaving his two-year-old son home alone so that he could go out drinking was sentenced to two days in jail. South Central district judge Bruce Lominick actually gave the man two years in prison, but suspended all but the two days he had already served. Police were alerted to the incident when they were called to the apartment on June 22nd to check on a crying child. (USA Today, 7-25-2012, pg 6A)