Child Endangerment and Neglect

Child endangerment is a form of child abuse where a parent or guardian acts in such a way to put a child in danger. This could be a risk to their physical, emotional or mental health and can either be knowingly or unknowingly done. Unreasonable force, cruelty and torture are also under this category and will be punished by the law. If the child has been placed in a dangerous situation by a parent or caregiver or they failed to protect them from a dangerous situation, they could be accused of child endangerment. Even if the situation did not result in injury, there was still the potential for harm and they could be prosecuted. Authorities take this very seriously, and perpetrators can be convicted of a misdemeanor or felony.

Child neglect differs from child endangerment but is also a form of child abuse. It is by far the most widespread type of abuse, making up for 80% of all cases. Neglect can be defined as the failure to provide children with the care they need, whether it be physical, educational, emotional, or medical. Neglect can be more difficult to detect than other forms of abuse, but can be noticed by medical professionals or other workers who are able to closely examine the child.

Physical neglect refers to depriving a child of food, shelter, supervision, clothing, or proper hygiene. Not only does this affect a child's emotional well-being, but it can be serious consequences regarding their health. Sadly, some cases end in death. Medical neglect is serious as it involves withholding or failing to provide treatment when a child is sick or injured. One survey suggests that 2% of children in the U.S. have suffered the adverse effects of medical neglect. If you have any suspicions that a child is being endangered or neglected, there are steps that can be taken to protect these young victims.

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