Child Abuse

Child abuse is the intentional omission of care by a parent or guardian that can cause a
child to be hurt, maimed, or even killed.   Child abuse can be either physical, mental,
emotional or sexual.   Because of child abuse, Caprice Ried will never do the things that a
normal four-year old does.   She will never play on a playground, or go to a sleepover, and
never go to school.   All of this was taken away from her at such a young age, when she
died of child abuse.   The foster parents, Patricia Coker, and her mother Betty Coker have
been charged with second degree murder for Caprice's death.   Caprice went without food
for days.   She was also tied to a chair and beaten with a stick until she couldn't walk.
Several days later, she was found dead.
As horrible as this story seems, this scene happens way to often.   In 1996,
approximately 3,126,000 children were reported for child abuse.   Currently, about 47 out
of every 1,000   children are reported as victims of child abuse and maltreatment.
Overall, child abuse reporting levels have increased 45% between 1987 and 1996.  
In 1996, an estimated 1,046 child abuse and neglect related fatalities   were
confirmed by Child Protective Services, (CPS) agencies.   Since 1985, the rate of child
abuse fatalities has increased by 20%.   Based on these numbers, more than three children
die each day   as a result of child abuse or neglect.  
In 1996, some states reported that almost 77% of these children that died were
less than five years old at the time of their death, while 45% were under 1 year of age.
The causes of death were 45% neglect, 52% physical abuse, 3% from a combination of
neglect and physical abuse.   Studies of the general population show that anywhere from
6% to 63% of women were sexually abused as children.   A 1985 L.A. Times national
survey found that 27% of women and 16% of men reported being sexually abused prior
to age 18.   The true extent of sexual abuse in unknown.  
The relationship... [continues]

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