A person who willfully neglects a child and causes great bodily harm commits what type of felony?

The correct classification of the crime in this scenario as a second-degree felony aligns with definitions and statutes regarding child neglect and harm. Willfully neglecting a child indicates a conscious decision to disregard the child's welfare, which can lead to serious consequences, especially when it results in great bodily harm.

In many jurisdictions, the severity of the felony is determined by the degree of harm inflicted and the intent behind the neglect. A second-degree felony typically encompasses acts that result in significant injury or risk to a child but do not reach the level of premeditation or extreme malice that would characterize a first-degree felony. This recognition of the gravity of neglect, paired with the resultant harm, situates the offense at a level that acknowledges serious criminal behavior without elevating it to the highest degree of felonious conduct.

The distinctions made in the laws suggest that while neglectful behavior is reprehensible, the classification as a second-degree felony reflects the nature of the offense in which neglect leads to substantial but not the most severe consequences.