Every state has child abuse reporting and protection laws. The purpose of these laws is to protect children from neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse and psychological abuse.
Reporting is the first step in the child protection process. Anyone who suspects a child is being abused can file a report with child protective services or law enforcement. Most states have mandatory reporting laws for people who have jobs working with children such as school employees including teachers, physicians, social workers, childcare providers, nurses, paramedics, medical personnel, firefighters, law enforcement, medical examiners and coroners.
Intake is when child protective services receive a report of suspected child abuse they must evaluate the report …show more content…
A case can be closed if successful rehabilitation of the family is accomplished and CPS believes the child can be placed back in the home. A case can also be closed if the abusive parent or caretaker does not complete the required provisions. CPS can then make a request to the court to have parental rights or guardianship terminated.
If the parents plead not guilty, the case is continued for pre-trial conferences where the evidence is reviewed and the attorneys can sometimes work out a plea bargain. If not, the case goes to trial. Depending on the charge if convicted of felony child abuse the sentence could be 10 or more years in prison, a year or more probation once released and several thousand dollars in fines as well as having parental right severed. Less severe cases could result in just months in county jail along with fines and probation. Even a charge of neglect can result in fines and probation from 6 months to a year. Other penalties can include, “limited parental rights, restraining orders to stay away from the child, protective custody for the child with state agency or foster care and court ordered monitored visits or family therapy” (Theoharis, …show more content…
In the United States, “approximately 80 percent of children who die from abuse are under the age of four” (Siegel & Welsh, 2012, p. 306).
Works Cited
Child Abuse Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.childhelp.org/child-abuse-statistics/
Theoharis, M. (n.d.). Child Abuse: Laws Penalties and Sentencing | Criminal Law. Retrieved from http://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/crime-penalties/federal/Child-Abuse.htm References
Goldman, J., Salus, M. K., Wolcott, D., & Kennedy, K. Y. (2003). A Coordinated Response to Child Abuse and Neglect: The Foundation for Practice. Retrieved from https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/supercps/
Siegel, L. J., & Welsh, B. C. (2012). The family and delinquency. In Juvenile delinquency theory, practice, and law (12th ed., pp. 276-315). Stamford, CT: Wadsworth Cengage
Reporting is the first step in the child protection process. Anyone who suspects a child is being abused can file a report with child protective services or law enforcement. Most states have mandatory reporting laws for people who have jobs working with children such as school employees including teachers, physicians, social workers, childcare providers, nurses, paramedics, medical personnel, firefighters, law enforcement, medical examiners and coroners.
Intake is when child protective services receive a report of suspected child abuse they must evaluate the report …show more content…
A case can be closed if successful rehabilitation of the family is accomplished and CPS believes the child can be placed back in the home. A case can also be closed if the abusive parent or caretaker does not complete the required provisions. CPS can then make a request to the court to have parental rights or guardianship terminated.
If the parents plead not guilty, the case is continued for pre-trial conferences where the evidence is reviewed and the attorneys can sometimes work out a plea bargain. If not, the case goes to trial. Depending on the charge if convicted of felony child abuse the sentence could be 10 or more years in prison, a year or more probation once released and several thousand dollars in fines as well as having parental right severed. Less severe cases could result in just months in county jail along with fines and probation. Even a charge of neglect can result in fines and probation from 6 months to a year. Other penalties can include, “limited parental rights, restraining orders to stay away from the child, protective custody for the child with state agency or foster care and court ordered monitored visits or family therapy” (Theoharis, …show more content…
In the United States, “approximately 80 percent of children who die from abuse are under the age of four” (Siegel & Welsh, 2012, p. 306).
Works Cited
Child Abuse Statistics. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.childhelp.org/child-abuse-statistics/
Theoharis, M. (n.d.). Child Abuse: Laws Penalties and Sentencing | Criminal Law. Retrieved from http://www.criminaldefenselawyer.com/crime-penalties/federal/Child-Abuse.htm References
Goldman, J., Salus, M. K., Wolcott, D., & Kennedy, K. Y. (2003). A Coordinated Response to Child Abuse and Neglect: The Foundation for Practice. Retrieved from https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/supercps/
Siegel, L. J., & Welsh, B. C. (2012). The family and delinquency. In Juvenile delinquency theory, practice, and law (12th ed., pp. 276-315). Stamford, CT: Wadsworth Cengage