Child Abuse and Negligence FAQs

Child abuse and child neglect impact millions of children every year in the U.S. It is an epidemic that our Deratany & Kosner attorneys aim to end. Child abuse occurs when a parent or caregiver causes or puts a child at risk for injury, emotional harm, or death. There are different types of child abuse, including physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect.

Sometimes, the signs are obvious. A child has been visibly beaten. A young girl becomes pregnant. Other times, the warning signs are much more subtle. These include:

• Physical Abuse Warning Signs
  • Unexplained bruises
  • Unexplained injuries (broken bones, burn marks, etc.)
  • Sudden change in mood
  • Avoiding eye contact
  • Flinching at sudden movements
  • Fear of adults
• Emotional/Psychological Abuse Warning Signs
  • Child cries without warning
  • Frequent unexplained temper tantrums
  • Being extremely quiet or withdrawn
  • Child has poor self-esteem
  • Poor performance in school
  • Extreme behavior (very aggressive or very passive)
• Sexual Abuse Warning Signs
  • Stained underwear
  • Difficulty sitting or walking
  • Frequent bedwetting or nightmares
  • Pain in genital area
  • Knowledgeable about sexual behavior
• Negligence Warning Signs
  • Child smells offensive
  • Unkempt hair
  • Disheveled clothing
  • Unusual weight loss
  • Child constantly hungry

There are many different types of child neglect cases. Some of the most common – and most serious – neglect cases include:

• Physical Neglect
  • Child left unsupervised
  • Child left home alone by parents
  • Child is not fed enough food
  • Parents regularly kicking a child out of the house
• Emotional and Psychological Neglect
  • Not giving child enough attention
  • Withholding affection from a child
  • Parents being verbally abusive with child
  • Verbally threatening a child
  • Routinely ignoring child
  • Child not registered for school or attending school
• Medical Neglect
  • Not getting regular medical checkups
  • Not giving child medications prescribed by a doctor
  • Poor dental hygiene due to lack of dental care

If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, we recommend taking the following steps to protect the health and safety of the child:

• Call the police – Law enforcement officials can contact the appropriate social services agency or handle the investigation themselves.
• Do not get personally involved – In other words, do not directly approach the parents and tell them that you think they are mistreating the child. You could put yourself in danger by doing so.
• Call an anonymous hotline – There are many hotlines available to call if you suspect a child is being abused. The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services has a 24-hour child abuse hotline.
• Simply call 800-252-2873. You do not have to give your name. But you could be making a huge difference in a child’s life.
• Contact a social services agency – Each state has a social services agency created to help protect the health and welfare of children. Contact them and let them know something is wrong.
• Call our law firm – At any point, please contact us right away. We can help you every step of the way.

If you are a professional in the field of health care, education, social work or law enforcement, the state of Illinois requires you to report any suspected neglect or abuse of a child. This includes:

• Teachers
• Doctors
• Police officers
• Daycare workers
• Social service workers