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Sources of Definitions in State Law

While Federal legislation sets minimum standards, each State is responsible for providing its own definition of maltreatment within civil and criminal contexts. Definitions of child abuse and neglect are typically located in three places within each State's statutory code:

• Mandatory child maltreatment reporting statutes (civil laws) provide definitions of child maltreatment to guide individuals who are mandated to identify and report suspected child abuse. You can locate definitions for your State by conducting a State Statutes Search on the Information Gateway website.
  
  
• Criminal statutes define those forms of child maltreatment that are criminally punishable.
  
  
• Juvenile court jurisdiction statutes provide definitions of the circumstances necessary for the court to have jurisdiction over a child alleged to have been abused or neglected. When the child's safety cannot be ensured in the home, these statutes allow the court to take custody of the child.

Selected Resources Definitions of Child Abuse and Neglect Child Welfare Information Gateway (2007) Provides State-by-State information on the conduct, acts, and omissions that constitute reportable child abuse or neglect. (PDF - 137 KB) A Coordinated Response to Child Abuse and Neglect: The Foundation for Practice Office on Child Abuse and Neglect (HHS), User Manual Series (2003) Addresses the definition, scope, causes, and consequences. (PDF - 4110 KB) National Center for Prosecution of Child Abuse American Prosecutors Research Institute Central resource for training, expert legal assistance, court reform, and current information on criminal child abuse investigations and prosecutions. State Definitions of Juvenile Court Jurisdiction (PDF - 259 KB) Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (2006) In Juvenile Offenders and Victims: 2006 National Report State statutes that define who is under juvenile court jurisdiction.

	Related Information Gateway Topics Systemwide: Laws & policies

Updated on September 18, 2008