What is child abuse and neglect?
An allegation of child abuse and neglect can be filed against a parent or other person responsible for the care of a child who is under eighteen years of age. Abuse or neglect of a child includes the following behavior by a parent or other person responsible for the care of the child: (1) inflicting mental or physical injury on a child or threatening to do so; (2) putting a child at risk of death or harm; (3) neglecting a child´s health or not providing the care necessary for a child´s health; (4) abandoning a child; (5) sexually exploiting a child or permitting that to happen; or (6) the unreasonable absence or the mental or physical incapacity of the child´s parent, guardian, legal custodian or other person standing in place of the parent, causing the child to be without parental care or guardianship. The local Department of Social Services investigates claims of child abuse and neglect. The Department may refer serious cases to the local police or sheriff´s department for a criminal
It is mistreatment or neglect of a child by parent(s) or other caretaker(s) resulting in injury or harm. Abuse of a child can be physical, sexual or emotional. Neglect is typically defined in two ways. Emotional neglect is when the child is suffering severe negative emotional effects due to a parent’s failure to provide opportunities for normal experience that produce feelings of being loved, wanted, secure, and worthy. Physical neglect is when a parent fails to provide basic needs or a safe and sanitary living environment for the child. Under Wisconsin Law, child abuse is a crime.
Factsheet Author(s): Child Welfare Information Gateway Year Published: 2008 Each State provides its own definitions of child abuse and neglect based on minimum standards set by Federal law. How Is Child Abuse and Neglect Defined in Federal Law? Federal legislation lays the groundwork for States by identifying a minimum set of acts or behaviors that define child abuse and neglect. The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), (42 U.S.C.A. §5106g), as amended by the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003, defines child abuse and neglect as, at minimum: • Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation; or • An act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm. Most Federal and State child protection laws primarily refer to cases of harm to a child caused by parents or other caregivers; they generally do not include harm caused by other
Federal legislation provides a foundation for States by identifying a minimum set of acts or behaviors that define child abuse and neglect. The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), (42 U.S.C.A. §5106g), as amended by the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003, defines child abuse and neglect as, at minimum: • Any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation; or • An act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm. What Are the Major Types of Child Abuse and Neglect? Within the minimum standards set by CAPTA, each State is responsible for providing its own definitions of child abuse and neglect. Most States recognize four major types of maltreatment: neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse. Although any of the forms of child maltreatment may be found separately, they often occur in combination. The examples pr
RCW 26-44-020 (12) defines abuse and neglect as injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, negligent treatment or maltreatment of a child by any person under circumstances which indicate that the child’s health, welfare, and safety is harmed. Abuse and neglect does NOT include the physical discipline of a child as defined in RCW 9A.16.100.
