Child Abuse and Neglect

Child Abuse and Neglect

Juvenile Courts vs. Criminal Courts: Tackling Child Abuse Cases

The Juvenile Court is a sub-division of the Superior court, which handles cases of child abuse and neglect under its Child Dependency department. The Juvenile Court often intervenes to protect children where there have allegations made of abuse and neglect upon the family. It can not only remove children from their homes and place them in foster care but also can terminate parental rights and create new ones. Government agencies and social services are usually involved if a child is removed from his/her home, which are then responsible for the child until he/she is placed in the care of suitable relatives or with foster family, which are by law required to be monitored regularly as per The Federal Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of (Public Law, 96-272).

Criminal Courts, on the other hand, take on child dependency cases when a family member is accused of the crime against the child. In criminal proceedings, the accused abuser is on the stand, and the focus is on whether he/she is guilty or not. Advantages of these proceedings include the authority to compel a witness to take the stand in the courtroom and provide testimony, which is helpful in cases where the witness is not testifying.

The rulings of the Juvenile Courts may seem pretty extreme in their ruling, as it may result in the separation of the family, which in itself can have a strong effect on the child. The effect can be doubled in the scenario if the Foster family is not a reliable one, which can provide a good home for the child. In a criminal court proceeding, while the effect of the court proceedings can be quite hard for the child to go through, the result and the carrying out of Justice is no doubt a positive sign for the child.

The Impact on Children of Abuse

The placing of children in the care of a foster family often escalates the problems suffered on an emotional level by the victim. A foster home means a new, unknown family and an alien home for a child who has already been through abuse and neglect in an environment which he/she trusted. This leads to trust issues in relation to adapting with the new family.