What would prevent you from calling authorities on a case of suspected child abuse?

Question

I work in the field of protecting children and see so many cases of abuse and negect that could have been prevented if someone had simply made a phone call. We hear several excuses as to why a neighbor, friend or family member did not call: A few examples:
* If it weren't true I would hate to have had the parents mad at me (What if it WERE true? would you care if they liked you then?)
* I have and nothing was ever done (Keep calling every day UNTIL something is done, go as far as going to the news)
* It is none of my business (Then WHOSE is it? Some children can't speak for them selves)
* And believe it or not..the child must have deserved it, they probably talked back to their parents. (No child deserves it, no matter what kind of a brat that particular child might be)
What would prevent you from making such a call?

Though most states do not like spanking as a method of dissipline, I understand your comment. But we are not talking about someone smacking thier child's hand in the line at Walmart. We are talking about pure abuse and neglect and if someone can't tell the difference between spanking a behind and using duct tape to tape a child to a wall then I feel sorry for the child on that wall!!
I would strongly suggest to anyone who is not a professional to MAKE A PHONE CALL or two, DO NOT take things into your own hands. Violence against another human being on behalf of another human being other than yourself is still battery. Call the proper authorities and write down as much as you can until they get there for later use against the abuser.

No, it does not make a person an EXPERT, very few people who call themselves this are not experts by any means, and not just in the child protection field. AND, there are people that call in others out of spite. SO, if you know someone who unlawfully called a person or persons in, turn THOSE PEOPLE in. They are breaking the law, the same law that says you can't call 911 unless there is an emergency. IF the person being turned in IS truly innocent, god willing, they will be found not guilty. But the DCS, DFC, and any other CPD can't take that chance. IF you know that a registered child offender is living in a home with a child under the age of 18, YOU HAVE to call the authorities. You will be protecting many lives.
The reason I asked this question to begin with was because I am so sad over what I see everyday and the excuses we hear makes me want to smack people around and say, "You could have saved her life!"
SO I BEG EVERYONE! If you see or suspect abuse, PLEASE MAKE A CALL! TY

Answer 1

NOTHING would stop me, a child in danger is EVERYONES child. iam sure there are many reasons why people abstain from reporting, however in my opinion no reason is valid.

Answer 2

Let me give you some personal experiences from people that I have known.

Example. I had a neighbor that was NOT taking care of her small children. I am talking about one of them couldn't even walk yet. I saw droopy diapers that drooped because they were FILLED. Need I add that they also didn't look as if they had a bath in who knows how long? I saw bottles that were not washed that had a film on them because they hadn't been washed - even the baby given a bottle filled with what clearly was spoiled milk. What happened when I called? NOTHING.

Then there are the people that have authorities called on them that spend YEARS being investigated - and they are a good parent. True, not 'rich' - but the children have needs met. They eat 3 meals a day, are clean, well cared for. Their parent works a full time job and has care for them till he gets home. Yet he still is being investigated. The call that was made - by an ex wife who was being taken to court for not paying child support. I also need to add that she had living in her home a registered sex offender? Nothing said to her at all.

I have no problem with turning someone. I have a problem with how many cases are handled though.

Answer 3

Child protection services helps keep complaints anonymous. You can call and nobody will know you did. Problem is, they are understaffed and for every legitimate complaint, there are several bogus ones.

ALL have to be investigated. Sadly enough, it's a first call, first serve basis. So some kids actually can die while waiting to be investigated.

Another reason for calling is to alert authorities that the child who's being abused could be someone else's child and authorities in another state might be looking for that kid.

Answer 4

i understand what your saying. i would love to work in the same field as your self. after all who will protect the child if the parents are harming them. i define child abuse and neglect as starving a child or down right beating the child. in the town i live in we call child protection DHR here. i just found out they are under investigation for removing children when there was n need for it. this is like the 3rd time that i know of. i don't know if you have hildren or not. but working for child protection does not make one an expert because of the job. I'm not being hateful or a smart butt. i know people where i live that will call on people who are just down right hateful and spiteful.

Answer 5

Nothing could /would prevent me from reporting suspected child abuse. And I would identify my self. Ive done it before and Id do it again in a heart beat. The life of a child is worth my maybe being wrong. I worked as a volunteer for CPS in Arizona and as a friend of the court . I know what horrible things that can happen if you just "don't want to get involved"..

Answer 6

What would prevent ME from calling you ask. No proof. If I see a parent spank their child, then I didn't witness abuse or molestation, I witnessed discipline. If the child though is being beaten to a bloody pulp then that's when not only do I call the authorities, I beat the parents to the same state they beat the child into. There is a big difference between spanking and hitting. Spanking is discipline(Old School), punching or kicking is not.

Answer 7

I've never ignored such a thing, but can't think of ever having seen it, either. I used to be a Cub Scout leader and it was part of the training to look for signs. If I had seen it I'd have reported it.

Answer 8

Absolutely nothing -- I could care less if the parents were upset - big deal.

I've made several such phone calls over the years. In Tennessee where I reside, all persons making the calls are kept anonymous.

Anyone who doesn't make such a call doesn't have any type of moral conscience whatsoever.

Period. The End.

Answer 9

I don't think anything would because there is nothing more precious than a child. The problem with most people is they like to complain but always want "someone else" to take action.

Answer 10

I work in public safety, and so many people do not want to get involved, they are worried that there will be some type of repercussions if they stand up for those who can not protect themselves. As long as there world is fine then they are to. It is a shame. I thank you for protecting our kids.

Answer 11

I doubt there's anything that would stop me from reporting suspected child abuse. Far too many kids getting killed because people are afraid to take a stand for them.