NCJ Number
29386
Journal
MILITARY POLICE LAW ENFORCEMENT JOURNAL Volume: 1 Issue: 4 Dated: (FALL 1974) Pages: 25-28
Date Published
1974
Length
4 pages
Annotation
AN OUTLINE OF THE MEDICAL, LEGAL, AND INVESTIGATIVE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN DEALING WITH SUSPECTED CASES OF CHILD ABUSE.
Abstract
IN AN EFFORT TO EXAMINE THE PROBLEM OF UNREPORTED DEATHS DUE TO CHILD ABUSE AMONG MILITARY FAMILIES, OVER 50 SUSPECTED CASES INVOLVING THE DEATH OF A CHILD DURING THE PERIOD 1958 TO 1972 WERE EXAMINED. TWO OF THE CASES FROM THAT STUDY ARE OUTLINED IN THIS ARTICLE. AMONG THE SPECIFIC PROBLEMS DISCUSSED IN INVESTIGATING THIS TYPE OF CASE ARE THE DIFFICULTY IN DETERMINING HOW INJURIES WERE INFLICTED, TREATMENT OF THE BATTERED CHILD, RESENTMENT BY PARENTS OF THE ACCUSATION OF CHILD ABUSE, PROBLEMS OF JURISDICTION, LACK OF WITNESSES TO THE INCIDENT, PROBLEMS IN OBTAINING REPORTS OF CHILD ABUSE, LACK OF CONCRETE EVIDENCE IN CHILD BATTERING CASES, AND INCONSISTENT OR INCOMPLETE RECORDS OF CHILDREN'S INJURIES THROUGH POSSIBLE ABUSE.