Regrettably, in family law instances of child abuse are ever-present. The Mississippi Department of Human services, along with law enforcement and the Courts are tasked with dealing with these critical circumstances.

The following are instances and indicators of abuse.

Emotional/Verbal Abuse is anything said or done that is hurtful or threatening to a child and is the most difficult form of maltreatment to identify:

• Name calling; “You’re stupid.”
• Belittling; “I wish you were never born.”
• Destroying child’s possessions or harming pets.
• Threatens to harm child or people they care about; “I’m going to choke you,” or “I’ll hurt your sister.”
• Locking a child in a closet or box.
• Rejecting a child.
• Isolating a child.

Sexual Abuse is any inappropriate touching by a friend, family member, anyone having on-going contact and/or a stranger, such as:

• Touching a child’s genital area.
• Any type of penetration of a child.
• Allowing a child to view or participate in pornography.
• Prostitution, selling your child for money, drugs, etc.
• Forcing a child to perform oral sex acts.
• Masturbating in front of a child.
• Having sex in front of a child.
• Touching a Child’s genital area.

Physical Abuse is any type of contact that results in bodily harm such as bruising, abrasions, broken bones, internal injuries, burning, missing teeth and skeletal injuries:

• Hitting or slapping a child with an extension cord, hands, belts, fists, broom handles, brushes, etc.
• Putting child into hot water.
• Cutting the child with a knife or any other sharp object.
• Shaking or twisting arms or legs, yanking a child by the arm.
• Putting tape over a child’s mouth.
• Tying a child up with rope or cord.
• Throwing a child across a room or down the stairs.

Neglect means not meeting the basic needs of the child and is the most common form of maltreatment.

• Medical – not giving a child life-sustaining medicines, over medicating, not obtaining special treatment devices deemed necessary by a physician.
• Supervision – leaving child/children unattended and leaving child/children in the care of other children too young to protect them (depending upon the maturity of the child).
• Clothing and good hygiene – dressing children inadequately for weather, persistent skin disorders resulting from improper hygiene.
• Nutrition – lack of sufficient quantity or quality of food, letting a child consistently complain of hunger and allowing the child to rummage for food.
• Shelter – having structurally unsafe housing, inadequate heating, and unsanitary housing conditions.