Professor Dyllan Taxman’s Scholarship on Parental Criminal Liability Gains Media Attention

Media outlets are turning to Dyllan Taxman, Assistant Professor of Law at Baylor Law School, for insight on a complex and evolving legal question: When, if ever, should parents face criminal liability for their children’s actions?

Taxman’s recent scholarship, including an article in the William & Mary Law Review, examines how courts and prosecutors are addressing parental accountability in the wake of high-profile acts of violence. This work has gained traction as jurisdictions across the United States and abroad grapple with cases that test the boundaries of criminal law.

He has been interviewed by CNN and appeared on BBC Radio 4 Today and BBC Radio 5 Live, two of the United Kingdom’s most widely listened to news programs. He also spoke with The Guardian for the publication’s “Guns and Lies” series. In the United States, he joined WABE, Atlanta’s NPR and PBS affiliate, to discuss a closely watched case from Georgia and authored an op ed for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel examining legal questions raised by a recent school shooting in Wisconsin.

Across these appearances, Taxman has provided clear, measured analysis of cases involving parental accountability, including prosecutions tied to incidents in Michigan, Georgia, Wisconsin, and the United Kingdom. His commentary highlights both the legal challenges and the broader policy implications of extending criminal liability beyond the individual who commits the act.

As public attention continues to focus on these difficult issues, Taxman’s work reflects Baylor Law School’s commitment to scholarship that engages with real-world legal questions and informs national and global conversations.