Kersh Law Firm is a staunch advocate of children’s rights. The firm believes that there are very few things in the world that matter more than children and their happiness and safety. This is also why it is incredibly difficult to understand how and why child abuse happens.
In Texas alone, the Children’s Advocacy Centers report that the tragic number of children who are victims of child abuse reaches over 180 daily. And this has been the main reason why the state of Texas created the Texas Family Code, Chapter 261, 261.101.
Kersh Law Firm explains that this law enables anybody who suspects that a child is a victim of abuse or neglect to call in or report the potential case to any law enforcer, law enforcement agency, or the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, or DFPS as soon as they can.
The law also requires the individual who suspects that a child is a victim of abuse or neglect to observe the situation more closely and base his or her reports on facts. It is also very possible for a person who has seen or suspected child abuse or neglect and not reported it to be charged and fined, Kersh Law Firm adds.
There are a few important tips as shared by law enforcement personnel, private investigators, and child care professionals when observing children who are suspected victims of child abuse or neglect. For starters, a person should always have backup facts to support his or her report.
For example, making notes of the signs one may see such as recurring injuries, burns, or even the fact that a child exhibits terror in the presence of an adult, or even flinching, may all support the abuse claim. Kersh Law Firm also mentions that malnourishment, lethargy, and unkempt clothing may be signs of neglect.
However, if a child approaches another person and recounts instances of abuse or neglect, the best course of action is for the other person to write down exactly what the child says. This word-for-word account may then be submitted along with the report to the Texas DFPS.
Kersh Law Firm, P.C., is a legal family law counsel established in 2013 with offices located at the Alabama Suite in Houston, Texas. It is the firm’s mission to provide each handled case comprehensive legal advice and strategy, as well as offer every client exceptional customer service.
Tags: child abuse, child custody, child custody cases, protection, family law, abuse
References:
http://www.ipt-forensics.com/library/saadcd.htm
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11289649
http://www.americanbar.org/publications/gp_solo/2011/september/allegations_criminal_child_abuse_divorce_cases.html