NCJ Number
131308
Date Published
1983
Length
31 pages
Annotation
The book presents a brief overview of physical child abuse in the United States. Coverage includes: the size of the problem; the laws relating to child abuse; helping the abusers and abused; and ideas for prevention via community support.
Abstract
This brief overview of the problem of child physical abuse uses actual case stories to introduce the topic and to show the interrelationship between abused children who then become abusing parents. Indications and combination of factors to look for in possible physical abuse situations are presented followed by a discussion on the actual and suspected size of the problem in the United States. The World-of-Abnormal-Rearing cycle or W.A.R. cycle involves four common factors that indicate a potential for abuse and manifests itself in 85 percent of the families who abuse or neglect their children. The chapter on the laws relating to child physical abuse discusses four kinds of laws: reporting laws which mandate what incidents should be reported; juvenile court act or the code that guides juvenile courts; criminal laws which provide penalties for convicted child abusers; and other child protection laws that establish and fund child protection State agencies. The overview then moves into the area of responding to the problem of physical child abuse and discusses helping the abusive parent, the abused child, and the child abuse professional. The book concludes with a presentation on prevention via community support programs. 1 figure and 14 references