Child abuse has many faces and some are not easily recognized. Children are not wearing physical signs of abuse, but on a closer look, you will find that this is not the case.
Lawyers who represents defendants in various criminal charges in court trials, like Law Offices of Ian S. Mednick, says that child abuse cases are almost always very complex.
Indicators of Child Abuse
Child abuse is not limited to battery or physical violence. Emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect are a few ways to degrade a child’s living conditions and make them feel unsafe in their environment.
As some children are not vocal about their situation, adults have to read their body language to search for signs of abuse. SafeHorizon.org shared common signs of child abuse on top of obvious physical injuries:
- Changes in behavior
- Returning to earlier behaviors
- Fear of going home
- Changes in eating habit
- Changes in sleeping habit
- Changes in school performance and attendance
- Lack of personal care or hygiene
- Risk-taking behaviors
- Inappropriate sexual behaviors
Malice in These Symptoms
These symptoms, however, are not sure signs of child abuse. It can be indicative of a personality disorder or medical condition. Unfortunately, these can be manipulated and bent against a suspect.
If you are accused of child abuse charges, these suspicions must first be proven in court. The thing about putting a blame to an adult close to a child for alleged abuse is that it can be malicious or unfounded. While social workers, school authorities, guardians and the family may be relieved to have pulled a name to tag as a suspect, it is not really giving justice to the victim.
The first thing you need to do is to consult a lawyer before talking to social workers and authorities. It is best to be legally represented so you can properly defend yourself.