Crystal Thomas, a 33-year-old woman from New York, stares at jail time for letting her 10-year-old son get a tattoo. A 10-year-old boy got a tattoo and asked for Vaseline from the nurse at school. That is when the nurse found the tattoo and raised an alarm. 

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Lloyd Police Chief James Janso, in his conversation with Daily Mail, said the boy was staying at a motel with his mom and older sibling and they found a man in another room who could do his tattoo. Police are on the lookout for the man who tattooed the young boy. 

The Highland-based woman was, however, allowed to return on an appearance ticket. She will later have to appear at the town’s court. Her children were taken in by child protective services, local reports say.  

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Thomas is charged with endangering the welfare of a child for allegedly allowing her innocent son to get the block letters of his name tattooed on his forearm. 

According to Section 260.21 of New York State Penal Law, it is violated to tattoo minors under the age of 18, regardless of parental consent. Moreover, Article 4A of New York State Public Health Law prohibits body piercing on a person under eighteen years of age unless the person provides has written consent from a parent or legal guardian. Also, the person must show the same written consent to the body art establishment. 

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Why getting a tattoo is risky?

Body tattooing or body piercing involves risks like infection and blood-borne disease transmission. Apart from these, they can also result in allergic reactions, prolonged bleeding, scarring, swelling, and discomfort. People who are already patients with conditions like heart disease, skin disorders, allergies, diabetes, or any prolonged infections, are advised not to get any permanent ink tattoos or piercing on their bodies unless their doctors or physicians give a green signal.