What can I do to Protect a Child from Abuse and Sexual Assault?

The general definition of child abuse is anytime a parent, caretaker, or other adult takes physical, emotional, or sexual advantage of a child. California child abuse laws state that certain adults who work with children (teachers, doctors) are required to report signs of potential abuse.

The problem of abuse and molestation does not discriminate; regardless of race, socioeconomic status, or religion, any child can be at risk. According to the American Society for the Positve Care of Children (SPCC) nearly five children die every day in the U.S. because of abuse. That’s just one terrifying statistic out of many. Indeed, compared to other developed nations, our country has one of the worst records overall. What can we do, as parents and well-meaning citizens to prevent this from happening?

While the complete elimination of risk is unrealistic, there are ways to be proactive.. The best thing you can do as a parent or caregiver is be involved in a child’s life. Listening to their daily activities, asking about their experiences, and taking them seriously when they address their feelings can make an enormous difference. Teaching and communicating with a child will create trust, encouraging them to speak up about possible concerns.

Know the signs of abuse and recognize them in people close to you, as most cases involve family members or adults that are around them often in school or extracurricular settings.

Red flags may include:

  • An adult showing excessive favoritism for a child, an attempt to make them feel special and win their trust.

Situations where a child is with an adult for private one-on-one time that may not be necessary. For example, being

  • held later after sports practices, school functions that may not be legitimate, offers of private tutoring, trips, or private lessons,
  • Emotional withdrawal, increased anxiety, fear, and extreme changes in behavior
  • Unexplained bruises or other injuries, issues with basic physical movements such as sitting

While the role of the community at large in protecting children from abuse is not codified in the law in all cases, it is expected that reports should be properly filed with those certified to investigate such situations when there is a genuine reason for suspicion. An important fact to remember is that parents, guardians, and any other community members all have the right to report child abuse; they are also allowed to remain anonymous in the process if so desired. Teachers, medical professionals and others are legally required to make a report.

Points of contact to keep in mind if you need to make a report:

  • Police/Sheriff’s Department (local or state)
  • Designated County Probation Departments that accept child abuse reports
  • County Welfare Departments
  • County Child Protective Services (CPS)

It is also an option to file a report over the telephone. A list of California County Emergency Response numbers can be found here: http://www.childsworld.ca.gov/res/pdf/CPSEmergNumbers.pdf

Reporters’ identities are to be kept confidential, and by law they have immunity from criminal or civil liability. However, failing to make a required report may result in a misdemeanor charge punishable by jail time or up to a $1000 fine, as per the California Penal Code Section 11166(c).

TO know more about the rights of the victims of sexual abuse, talk to our attorneys at Salek Law Firm.