Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

That depends on what she is eventually convicted of, if anything.

Possession of less than an ounce of marijuana carries a maximum punishment of a $100 fine, but possession for sale can lead to a three year state prison sentence. There are misdemeanor child cruelty charges with a max of a year in county jail and felonies with up to six years in prison. If it was deliberate, intentional and cruel, it could even be charged as torture, which is punished by seven years to life in prison.

She needs a lawyer, who will have access to all of the information and can give informed answers. If she cannot afford to hire her own attorney, she is entitled to one at government expense and the judge will appoint the Public Defender.

Please understand that this is a general discussion of legal principles by a California lawyer and does not create an attorney/client relationship. It's impossible to give detailed, accurate advice based on a few sentences on a website (and you shouldn't provide too much specific information about your legal matter on a public forum like this, anyway). You should always seek advice from an attorney licensed in your jurisdiction who can give you an informed opinion after reviewing all of the relevant information.