Child Abuse and Neglect

Although most people would not even think about abusing a child, there are individuals in this world who have no qualms with committing such an atrocity. Nationwide, Child Protective Services, or CPS, receives 50,000 calls about suspected child abuse each week.

Child neglect is the most common form of abuse, occurring in an estimated 60% of cases. Neglect is the failure of the child's parent or legal guardian, or other established caregiver to provide for the basic needs of a child. 20% of cases are due to physical abuse, another 10% sexual abuse, and lastly, 7% of cases are emotional abuse.

Recognizing Crimes Against Children

The majority of child abuse reports to CPS come from people who come into contact with a child, either professionally or nonprofessionally, such as a neighbor or a fellow parent. Therefore, it is good to know the signs of child abuse, which can include:

• Changes in school performance and difficulty learning that is not related to a previously diagnosed issue
• Becoming withdrawn and other alterations in behavior
• Loss of parent-child interaction
• Unhealthy or slow growth

Talking to a Child About Abuse

If a child comes to you and tells you that he or she is being abused, it is recommended that you remain calm and do not interrogate the child. Also, experts say that you should avoid acting with disbelief. Lastly, they suggest comforting the child by assuring him or her that it is not their fault. Of course, CPS or another such authority is the best place to take the child's concerns.

In some cases, one parent may discover that the spouse is abusing the couple's child. This can destroy a marriage. In other cases, child abuse allegations may fly in divorce proceedings in order to battle for the custody of the child.

Contact Us

If you or someone you know is considering divorce due to child abuse, or is being accused of child abuse for custody purposes, please contact the Frisco divorce lawyers of Alexander & Associates at 972-420-6570 today.