CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND THE LAW - CASES AND MATERIALS FOR ATTORNEYS AND LAW STUDENTS

• NCJ Number: 60631
• Author(s): J A GOLDNER
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 179 pages
• Grant Number(s): 90-C-483
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Corporate Author: University of Iowa
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

ATTORNEY TRAINING IN MANAGEMENT OF CHILD ABUSE CASES SHOULD AIM TO INCREASE KNOWLEDGE OF MEDICAL, SOCIOLOGICAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF THE PROBLEM. THESE INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS HAVE THIS GOAL.

Abstract

ATTORNEYS SHOULD KNOW THE VARIETY OF EVIDENTIARY AND LITIGATION PROBLEMS WHICH OCCUR IN CHILD ABUSE CASES, PARTICULARLY WHEN DEALING AS HOSPITAL COUNSEL OR PARTICIPATING IN ABUSE TRIALS. THESE MATERIALS AND CASES, DESIGNED FOR SECOND OR THIRD YEAR LAW STUDENTS, COVER INFORMATION ON FAMILY LAW. THEY INCLUDE A HISTORY OF CHILD ABUSE; AN INTRODUCTION TO THE PROBLEM; THE MEDICAL AND SOCIAL CRITERIA FOR DIAGNOSIS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT; STATISTICAL DATA ON THE INCIDENCE OF ABUSE AND CHARACTERISTICS OF VICTIMS, ABUSERS, AND THEIR FAMILIES. FEDERAL LEGISLATION, REVISED STATE STATUTES, AND FUNDING PROJECTS ARE PRESENTED ALSO. STATUTES COVERING ABUSE ARE ILLUSTRATED BY A MODEL LAW. STATE STATUTES GENERALLY COVER PURPOSE, DEFINITION, MAXIMUM AGE, (MAXIMUM AGE OF CHILDREN COVERED BY LAW HAS INCREASED IN RECENT YEARS FROM 16 TO 18 YEARS) MANDATORY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS, AND IMMUNITY PROVISIONS, AND PENAL SANCTIONS. MEDICAL REPORTS, X RAYS, AND HOSPITAL RECORDS ARE A PRIMARY SOURCE OF EVIDENCE TO PROVE ABUSE IN COURT PROCEEDINGS. FINALLY, VARIOUS APPROACHES TO SOLVING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT ARE EXPLORED. A TABLE OF CASES, A BIBLIOGRAPHY, AND INDEX CONCLUDE THE BOOK. (RFC)