Endangerment is a type of crime involving conduct that is wrongful and reckless or wanton, and likely to produce death or grievous bodily harm to another person.
In some U.S. states, such as Florida, substantially similar language is used for the crime of culpable negligence.
The offense is intended to prohibit and therefore deter reckless or wanton (of a cruel or violent action, deliberate and unprovoked conduct) conduct that wrongfully creates a substantial risk of death or serious injury to others.
For example, the New York Penal Code §120.20 defines reckless endangerment in the second degree (class A misdemeanor) as conduct that "creates a substantial serious risk of injury to another person", and §120.25 deals with reckless endangerment in the first degree (class D felony), which is conduct that shows a "depraved indifference to human life" and "creates a grave risk of death to another person".
In addition, §145.25 codifies reckless endangerment to property as a class B misdemeanor.