NCJ Number
50189
Date Published
1975
Length
0 pages
Annotation
THIS SLIDE AND CASSETTE AUDIOVISUAL PROGRAM, DESIGNED TO TRAIN TEXAS POLICE OFFICERS, PROVIDES GUIDELINES FOR IDENTIFYING AND REPORTING CHILD ABUSE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS STATE LAWS.
Abstract
CHILD ABUSE IS DEFINED AS THE INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF PHYSICAL INJURY OR MENTAL DAMAGE TO A CHILD BY ANOTHER PERSON. CHILD NEGLECT IS DEFINED AS THE INTENTIONAL DISREGARD FOR A CHILD'S HEALTH AND SAFETY BY A PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CHILD'S CARE. POLICE ARE INSTRUCTED TO ASSESS WHETHER SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSERS ARE ALCOHOLICS, DRUG ADDICTS, OR EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED PERSONS OR HAVE ABNORMAL ATTITUDES TOWARD CHILDREN. CHILDREN SUSPECTED OF BEING ABUSED SHOULD BE CHECKED FOR THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS: BRUISES OR INJURIES, ABNORMAL MOVEMENTS OR PAIN, UNUSUAL DROWSINESS, EXTREME FRAILNESS, UNEXPLAINED CRYING, UNUSUAL FEAR, OR WITHDRAWAL FROM PARENTS. BY WATCHING FOR THESE SIGNS, MORE CASES OF CHILD ABUSE MAY BE DETECTED. THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WELFARE HAS ESTABLISHED A COMPUTERIZED DATA BANK FOR INFORMATION COLLECTED FROM REPORTS OF CHILD ABUSE. THESE REPORTS MAY BE MADE, ANONYMOUSLY IF THE CALLER PREFERS, BY CALLING A TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE NUMBER. BY ENTERING REPORTED DATA INTO THE DATABASE, INFORMATION ON ABUSED CHILDREN CAN BE RETRIEVED INSTANTLY AND CAN BE USED TO IDENTIFY CHRONIC CHILD ABUSERS. (BAC)