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State Definitions of Child Abuse and Neglect
While Federal legislation sets minimum standards for States that accept Federal funding, each State is responsible for defining child maltreatment in State law. Definitions of child abuse and neglect are typically located in two places within each State's statutory code:
- Civil statutes provide definitions of child maltreatment to guide individuals who are mandated to identify and report suspected child abuse and determine the grounds for intervention by State child protection agencies and civil courts. Locate definitions for your State by conducting a State Statutes Search on the Information Gateway website.
- Criminal statutes define those forms of child maltreatment that can subject an offender to arrest and prosecution in criminal courts.
National Center for Prosecution of Child Abuse
American Prosecutors Research Institute
Serves as a central resource for training, expert legal assistance, court reform, criminal definitions of abuse and neglect, and current information on criminal child abuse investigations and prosecutions.
Child Welfare and the Law | |
Series Title: | Related Organizations Lists |
Author(s): | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
Availability: | View Download (PDF - 0KB) |
Year Published: | 2011 - 12 pages |
This resource list provides the addresses and phone numbers of organizations that maintain information for professionals about legal issues regarding child welfare. A short description of each organization is included. The organizations address children's rights, the prosecution of child abuse, state court proceedings, child welfare policy analysis, and advocacy. |