A serious look at child abuse

A serious look at child abuse

July 31, 2001

By Colleen Miller

After reading the article in the July 14 Cortez Journal, "Cortez man not guilty on child abuse charge," it became crystal clear that as a community we need to take a serious look at what constitutes child abuse and what the consequences should be for committing the crime of child abuse.

It was alarming to read defense attorney Sheeran’s statement, "A parent has the right to apply physical force to a child." "The discipline was for the child’s own good." Where is it written that placing bruises and welts on a child is a parental right?

Physical abuse of a child is defined as non-accidental injury, which includes beatings or whippings resulting in marks, bruises and welts. This type of discipline is never "for the child’s own good." The fact is, this form of child abuse is perpetrated on a child usually only for the benefit of an adult who uses violence against the child as an outlet for temporary release of stockpiled frustrations.

Physical violence against a child is a crime. Although the criminal defense attorney is pleased with the outcome of this case, how much longer can our communities afford to continue to tolerate all forms of cild abuse?

With youth violence escalating at a deadly rate, how much longer can community members nod their heads in agreement when someone says, "a parent has the right to apply physical force to a child"? Statistics show that many children who exhibit violent behaviors and perpetrate violence on others learned those behaviors in their home environment. Violence at home = violent children.

Our community must step up to the plate and hold perpetrators, parents, judges, prosecutors, law enforcement officers, child protection/social service workers, jurors and ourselves accountable for the safety and well-being of the children in this community. Form a community accountability group dedicated to working on behalf of child victims by monitoring child-abuse cases as they journey through the legal system. Raise awareness of the issue by speaking out in public forums.

Child abuse is wrong. Children are not to be beaten, used for the sexual gratification of an adult, neglected or suffer any other form of maltreatment. Let’s get going on this problem.