Child abuse is something that has been going on for centuries, and the damage is visible with all children. We need to be more aware of this epidemic and educate those around us in order to find a cure. What are your thought on how child abuse is handled in this country, the USA? What can we do in order to minimize the abuse?

Official Statistics: United States

By far the best site for official United States statistics on child abuse is the Child Welfare Information Gateway , a service of the Children's Bureau in the Administration for Children and Families, which is part of the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Before following the links below, read Defining Child Abuse & Neglect. If possible, look at the law which codified those definitions, the
the 1996 Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-...919enr.txt.pdf

2007 report/2005 data: Child Maltreatment 2005 : Table of Contents
2006 report/2004 data: Child Maltreatment 2004 : Table of Contents
2005 report/2003 data: Child Maltreatment 2003 : Table of Contents

This annual study and report is based on data reported by state agencies responsible for investigating suspected cases of child abuse. As I mentioned above, and as NCCAN recognizes, these statistics are under-estimates, since most cases of abuse and neglect never come to the attention of these state agencies.

On the other hand, there is strong evidence that incidents sexual and physical abuse of children declined in the 1990s. See Explanations for the Decline in Child Sexual Abuse Cases, an excellent 2004 paper written for the US Department of Justice by David Finkelhor and Lisa Jones. Dr. Finkelhor is an internationally renowned researcher and Director of the Crimes Against Children Research Center.

National Incidence Study - Executive Summary of the Third National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect
The National Incidence Study (NIS) is designed to estimate the actual number of abused and neglected children, including cases both reported and not reported to state Child Protective Services (CPS) agencies. NIS bases estimates on information from more than 5,600 community professionals who come into contact with maltreated children in a variety of settings.

An NIS survey Fourth National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect (NIS-4) is now underway, and scheduled for completion in February 2008.)

Though the statistics from this study are closer to the true rates of abuse and neglect in the US than those cited in the official Child Maltreatment reports, they may still be underestimates. On the other hand, the increase in estimated cases of abuse and neglect from the 1986 to 1993 NIS studies may reflect heightened awareness and stricter standards among professionals responsible for recognizing and investigating the abuse of children - not an actual increase in rates of child abuse and neglect.

Child Abuse: Statistics, Research, and Resources for Recovery

I've never been abused, but I think neglect is a bigger problem than abuse (besides being a form of abuse.)

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~Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

There are two recent stories that are absolutely sickening. A father that was playing with his infant son with a taser? A mother who puts her baby in the microwave?
What the public doesn't know is that there have most likely been lesser incidents leading up to these horrific situations. However, if you are a Child Protective Services social worker, you caseload is enormous. Most of these social workers only last 6 to 12 months. And once you remove a child from the family, the group homes may not be much better.

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National Debt =

It seems that when women are accused, it's mental health issues. When men are accused, it's criminal.

No true, look at the guy who jumped out of a building with his two kids. he got found as being mentally ill.

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The union forever defending our rights, down with the blackleg, workers unite. To our brothers and our sisters in many far off lands, there is power in a union.
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Didn't hear about that one. Send me a link, if you can. Did he survive?

yeah, he did, here's the link. BBC NEWS | England | Bristol | Man who killed son is 'innocent'

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Trust me, I'm a socialist!

There's power in a factory,power in the land, power in the hand of the worker. But it all amounts to nothing if together we don't stand, there is power in a union.
The union forever defending our rights, down with the blackleg, workers unite. To our brothers and our sisters in many far off lands, there is power in a union.
Money speaks for money, the devil for his own. - Billy Bragg

This thread deals with child abuse in the Unites States, nevertheless I will comment on the U.K. incident.
The article does not mention any previous history of mental health issues. It is the court appointed psych that evaluated him, and with a somewhat convincing story, he evaded the murder charge. He convinced the psych that he did not remember what happened. Temporary insanity does not mean you have a history of mental health issues.

Quote from the article:
John Hogan's statement though, coupled with evidence from his psychiatrist, was enough to convince the court that he was "incapable" of murdering his son because of his mental state.

He was there physically when he went over the balcony with his children, but not mentally, according to the specialist who appeared in court to defend him.

Definition of TEMPORARY INSANITY:
In criminal trials, the insanity defenses are possible defenses by excuse, by which defendants argue that they should not be held criminally liable for breaking the law, as they were legally insane at the time of the commission of alleged crimes. It is important to note that the legal definition of "insane" in this context is quite different from psychiatric definitions of "mentally ill", also that the definition of insanity varies between jurisdictions.

The name "insanity defense" is still in use in the United States, while Australia and Canada have renamed it the mental disorder defence, as Commonwealth nations tend to shy away from it, partially due to the stigma of the word "insanity"[citation needed]. When the insanity defense is successful, the defendant may be committed to hospital.

In the United Kingdom and the United States, use of the defense is rare and it is more common to rely upon a state of temporary mental impairment.

Insanity defense - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

o.k., but you agree that it proves that men are sometimes found to be insane and not criminal.

__________________
Trust me, I'm a socialist!

There's power in a factory,power in the land, power in the hand of the worker. But it all amounts to nothing if together we don't stand, there is power in a union.
The union forever defending our rights, down with the blackleg, workers unite. To our brothers and our sisters in many far off lands, there is power in a union.
Money speaks for money, the devil for his own. - Billy Bragg

In the United States the women are treated differently that men when children are involved. That goes from child abuse cases to the Family Court system. An example is this: A female teacher has sex with a minor student and the opinion is that she has mental health issues. A male teacher has sex with a minor student and he is a child molester/rapist. That is what I am talking about.

Yes there are instances in all topics that go against the majority. But the man in the U.K. had a temporary mental impairment, not mental health issues.