NCJ Number
174623
Journal
Trooper (Spring 1997) Volume: Issue: Dated: Pages: 45-55
Date Published
1997
Length
11 pages
Annotation
While this article focuses primarily on the felony crime of child abuse, the author notes there are many related crimes and problems within families that may be considered either a cause or a consequence of child abuse.
Abstract
Problems with severe family stress, domestic violence, juvenile delinquency, and runaways may all be directly related to child abuse. Moreover, studies show many criminal elements trace their initial motivations toward crime to their victimization by an abusive parent, custodian, sibling, or other household member. The anger, shame, and perverted sense of sexuality that is forced upon a child in the form of physical, sexual, mental, or verbal abuse may manifest itself in a cycle of abuse for generations. More laws have been passed over the past 20 years to protect abused children, those who report suspected child abuse, and those involved in child abuse investigations. Child abuse is considered a felony and the penalty for conviction is 15 years imprisonment, unless the abuse results in the death of the child in which case a 20-year sentence can be imposed. Child abuse investigators need to be aware of criminal law as it pertains to child abuse and related crimes and of family law and neglect issues. It is also very important for child abuse investigators to be familiar with and use the juvenile court system to handle enforcement activities related to juvenile offenders, child neglect, and child custody matters. Statistics on child abuse are presented, procedures to guide the investigation of child abuse cases are described, and child victim interviews and evidence collection are discussed.