Child abuse takes physical, sexual or emotional forms. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explain “child maltreatment” as any commission or omission by a parent that causes harm. Neglect, which is not meeting a child’s physical needs is a very common form of child abuse. A basic breakdown of each form of abuse is as follows:
- Physical abuse covers any non-accidental injury to a child
- Sexual abuse (molestation) covers any adult-child sexual interaction with the purpose of stimulating the adult’s sexual desires. This is a crime because the child is not capable of giving his/her consent and often is not aware of what he/she is engaging in.
- Emotional abuse/neglect: Any activity that interferes with a child’s social development and mental health or failing to provide basic necessities for the child
Child Abuse Statistics
For a free legal consultation with a child abuse lawyer serving Dallas, call 800-863-5312
Babies all the way up to 18 year olds can be victims of abuse. In 2005, 3.3 million reports of child abuse and neglect were filed. That year, four children died each day as a result of abuse. Estimates say that 63% of child abuse cases involve neglect, 16% involve physical abuse, 10% involve sexual abuse and 7% involve emotional abuse. According to statistics, girls are more likely to suffer from sexual abuse or emotional abuse, while boys are more commonly physically abused. Most of the time, children are abused by their parents or another relative, as opposed to a stranger or acquaintance. Other individuals who are repeat offenders include caregivers, such as babysitters. Abuse can include any of the following actions:
- Punching
- Beating
- Biting
- Kicking
- Burning
- Shaking
- Inflicting illness upon a child
- Rejecting
- Isolating
- Raping
- Touching inappropriately
- Terrorizing
- Ignoring
- Corrupting
- Verbal assault
- Over pressuring
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