Last Updated on July 2, 2025
io9 ranked the Caped Crusader as #1 in their list of heroes who should be arrested for child endangerment -and attorney Peter Liss believes they made a strong case. So, is Batman guilty of child endangerment or other crimes when it comes to Robin?
What is Child Endangerment, Exactly?
Under California law, to be convicted of child endangerment, you must have either willfully caused or permitted a child to suffer physical pain or mental suffering, or willfully caused or permitted a child to be placed in a situation where the child suffers physical pain or mental suffering.
How Old Were the Various “Robins?”
The first matter here would be if Robin was actually a child when he started assisting Batman. The answer is yes. While there have been five different incarnations of Robin throughout the years, all but one of them (Stephanie Brown) were under the age of 18 when they took on their roles. In fact, all but Stephanie were 13 or under when they started fighting crime, so there is no way a lawyer could argue against that fact.
Was Robin Placed in Danger?
The next matter is whether or not the children ever suffered physical pain or mental suffering at the hands of Batman or were put in a situation by Batman where they could experience such traumas. Again, the answer is yes. Obviously, fighting as a superhero against some of the most deranged villains in the world could put the children in both physical and mental danger. In fact, of the four underage boys to take on the role of Robin, two have already died.
As if that wasn’t bad enough, Batman has been known to slap Robin as well. Assuming the prosecution could get an accurate record and evidence of Batman and Robin’s exploits (and to prove that the defendant and victim were, indeed those crime fighters), it would be near impossible for a lawyer to defend Batman from this angle.
If Batman Guilty of Child Endangerment Charges?
When it comes to child endangerment charges, the only defense Batman’s criminal attorney would have would come from the word “willfully.” In order for child endangerment to have occurred, Batman must have “willfully caused or permitted” Robin to be put in harm’s way. While it’s easy to point at the adventures the Dynamic Duo have gone through, the bottom line is that Batman never recruits sidekicks. Instead, most of his charges have been young men dedicated to fighting crime regardless of the cost, whom Batman reluctantly assists in training to channel their anger and fight all forms of evil. In this way, a lawyer could argue that Batman is actually protecting them from the danger they would otherwise put themselves in.
This would undoubtedly be a difficult defense, but given the amount of money Bruce Wayne has, that Dick Grayson eventually inherits, he would certainly have the best defense lawyers working on his behalf.
Other Charges Batman Could Face
Of course, it’s unlikely that child endangerment would be the only charge Batman was facing. Possible other charges he could face would be child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Indeed, it would take a legion of the best criminal attorneys to successfully fight the full list of charges. The good news is that he wouldn’t face any charges for wearing his mask.
While you probably don’t fight crime every night, you could still be charged with child endangerment just like Batman. If that happens, or if you have any questions about California’s legal system, please call Peter M. Liss at (760) 643-4050 or (858) 486-3024 to schedule a free initial consultation.
