Child Abuse

What is Child Abuse?

• Physical Abuse includes unjustified beatings or torture of children, including violent shaking and conduct that causes severe injuries and/or death.
• Sexual Abuse is the inappropriate touching or sexual contact with a minor; sexual abuse is usually committed by someone known to the child, and children rarely report this immediately.
• Computer Crimes Against Children including the creation and possession of child pornography; luring children through emails, chatrooms, and social networks; and sending inappropriate messages or pictures to children on-line.

Examples of Child Abuse

• Physical Abuse includes unjustified beatings of children, as well as violent shaking of infants, burning, and other conduct that causes significant injuries or death. Under the law, however, not all corporal punishment is a crime.
• Sexual Abuse is usually committed by someone known to the child, and children rarely disclose abuse right away. A child will probably not feel comfortable talking to a parent about the details of what happened.
• Computer Crimes Against Children include the creation and possession of child pornography; luring children through emails, chatrooms, and social networks; and sending inappropriate messages or pictures to children on-line. Keep computers in an area of your home where adults can see what’s going on; do not permit your children to have passwords that you don’t know; and make sure your children never agree to provide personal information or to meet in-person with someone they have met on-line.

Reporting Child Abuse

Few things are more sad and terrifying than someone abusing a child. But all too often, child victims and their families are afraid or embarrassed to report the abuse. Reporting child abuse is always the right thing to do; we must stop the abuse, and we must make sure that children and their families get the help they need. Whether or not the case can be prosecuted, the District Attorney’s Office is here to help you figure out the best steps to protect your child and your family.

Resources

• In case of any emergency, call 911 immediately.
• If you know or have reasonable suspicion that a child is being abused or neglected, call the St John the Baptist Sheriff's Office at 985-652-9513.
• Mandated Reporters include doctors, nurses, and medical providers; therapists, social workers, alcohol and substance abuse counselor, and mental health providers; teachers, school administrators, school aides, daycare workers, and residential care workers; and law enforcement personnel. Mandated Reporters must make reports when they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child before them in their official capacity is an abused or maltreated child