What do you do if you suspect...?

Question

Molestation or sexual abuse of a two year old boy?

I know the obvious things to call law enforcement but I have no clue who is doing it. The parents are compleatly out of the question its just i can see signs of it. but i dont really have anything solid to prove it!

Answer 1

This is one of the things that I am very passionate about. No child deserves to be abused. In fact no one does. If you suspect a child is being abused in any way shape or form it is ALWAYS best to be safe than sorry. Yuo need to call the cops immediatly. I have pasted some research that I had done a while back about what signs to look for and what actions should be taken.

Recognizing Child Abuse

The following signs may signal the presence of child abuse or neglect.

The Child:

Shows sudden changes in behavior or school performance.
Has not received help for physical or medical problems brought to the parents' attention.
Has learning problems (or difficulty concentrating) that cannot be attributed to specific physical or psychological causes.
Is always watchful, as though preparing for something bad to happen.
Lacks adult supervision.
Is overly compliant, passive, or withdrawn.
Comes to school or other activities early, stays late, and does not want to go home.
The Parent:

Shows little concern for the child.
Denies the existence of—or blames the child for—the child's problems in school or at home.
Asks teachers or other caretakers to use harsh physical discipline if the child misbehaves.
Sees the child as entirely bad, worthless, or burdensome.
Demands a level of physical or academic performance the child cannot achieve.
Looks primarily to the child for care, attention, and satisfaction of emotional needs.
The Parent and Child:

Rarely touch or look at each other.
Consider their relationship entirely negative.
State that they do not like each other.
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Types of Abuse

The following are some signs often associated with particular types of child abuse and neglect: physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse. It is important to note, however, these types of abuse are more typically found in combination than alone. A physically abused child, for example, is often emotionally abused as well, and a sexually abused child also may be neglected.

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Signs of Physical Abuse

Consider the possibility of physical abuse when the child:

Has unexplained burns, bites, bruises, broken bones, or black eyes.
Has fading bruises or other marks noticeable after an absence from school.
Seems frightened of the parents and protests or cries when it is time to go home.
Shrinks at the approach of adults.
Reports injury by a parent or another adult caregiver.
Consider the possibility of physical abuse when the parent or other adult caregiver:

Offers conflicting, unconvincing, or no explanation for the child's injury.
Describes the child as "evil," or in some other very negative way.
Uses harsh physical discipline with the child.
Has a history of abuse as a child.
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Signs of Neglect

Consider the possibility of neglect when the child:

Is frequently absent from school.
Begs or steals food or money.
Lacks needed medical or dental care, immunizations, or glasses.
Is consistently dirty and has severe body odor.
Lacks sufficient clothing for the weather.
Abuses alcohol or other drugs.
States that there is no one at home to provide care.
Consider the possibility of neglect when the parent or other adult caregiver:

Appears to be indifferent to the child.
Seems apathetic or depressed.
Behaves irrationally or in a bizarre manner.
Is abusing alcohol or other drugs.
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Signs of Sexual Abuse

Consider the possibility of sexual abuse when the child:

Has difficulty walking or sitting.
Suddenly refuses to change for gym or to participate in physical activities.
Reports nightmares or bed wetting.
Experiences a sudden change in appetite.
Demonstrates bizarre, sophisticated, or unusual sexual knowledge or behavior.
Becomes pregnant or contracts a venereal disease, particularly if under age 14.
Runs away.
Reports sexual abuse by a parent or another adult caregiver.
Consider the possibility of sexual abuse when the parent or other adult caregiver:

Is unduly protective of the child or severely limits the child's contact with other children, especially of the opposite sex.
Is secretive and isolated.
Is jealous or controlling with family members.
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Signs of Emotional Maltreatment

Consider the possibility of emotional maltreatment when the child:

Shows extremes in behavior, such as overly compliant or demanding behavior, extreme passivity, or aggression.
Is either inappropriately adult (parenting other children, for example) or inappropriately infantile (frequently rocking or head-banging, for example).
Is delayed in physical or emotional development.
Has attempted suicide.
Reports a lack of attachment to the parent.
Consider the possibility of emotional maltreatment when the parent or other adult caregiver:

Constantly blames, belittles, or berates the child.
Is unconcerned about the child and refuses to consider offers of help for the child's problems.
Overtly rejects the child.
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Resources

Identifying Child Abuse and Neglect
www.childwelfare.gov/can/identifying
Resources and information from the Child Welfare Information Gateway website about signs and symptoms of child maltreatment, including training resources.

Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect
www.childwelfare.gov/preventing
Resources and information from the Child Welfare Information Gateway website.

Answer 2

Involving law enforcement is a good idea. But you might also talk to a child psychologist for information about what to look for in the child's behavior to indicate something is happening. Since a child that young can't really tell you what is happening, it may be difficult to prove without directly observing the abuse.

For someone to sexually abuse a child that young is reprehensible and inexcusable. Not to mention totally sick. However, I would do everything you can to be sure you make an accusation because if you're wrong it's something that doesn't go away. A person accused of child molestation is always going to have that hanging over their head whether the charges were proven or not.

Answer 3

If the child can speak then ask the child open ended questions. Make sure that a possible answer is not included in the question because they might just repeat what you said. By doing this you might be able to catch on to some things that may be taken as good evidence of sexual abuse

Answer 4

Call the police and Child Protective Services immediately.

Answer 5

Who cares if you don't have proof! Call family services and leave an "annonymous tip". They will let a medical doctor look and see. This is supposed to be what is right for the CHILD- it's not supposed to be a comfortable experience for you!. Be brave and do the right thing!

Answer 6

Discuss your concerns with the mother of the child. Just be honest and tell her exacty why you suspect something, what you observed, etc. If you are reasonably certain about the molestation, then I would go to the proper authorities.

Answer 7

By who? You need to get outside help, either calling social services or the police.

Answer 8

Make sure you have your facts straight, then you call Child Protective Services.

Answer 9

Take him to a child psychiatrist. They know the methods to talk to the kid and find out if anything fishy has been going on.

But if it's not your kid, you should mention something to the mother and ask her to look into it, since it's not really your business.

Answer 10

Immediately notify the police.