Child abuse

Child abuse is the physical or psychological maltreatment of a child by an adult or adults. Child abuse is often synonymous with the term child maltreatment or the term child abuse and neglect.

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There are many forms of abuse and neglect and many governments have developed their own legal definition of what constitutes child maltreatment for the purposes of removing a child and/or prosecuting a criminal charge. The Federal Government puts out a full definition of child abuse and neglect and creates a summary of each State definition. To view, go to Definitions of Child Abuse and Neglect: Summary of State Laws http://nccanch.acf.hhs.gov/general/legal/statutes/defineall.pdf that is part of the 2005 State Statute series by the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information.

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