Definitions of Child Abuse and Neglect - Oregon

Physical Abuse

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 419B.005

'Abuse' means any of the following:

• An assault of a child and physical injury to a child that has been caused by other than accidental means, including injury that appears to be at variance with the explanation given of the injury
• Threatened harm to a child that means subjecting a child to a substantial risk of harm to the child's health or welfare
• Buying or selling a person under age 18, as described in § 163.537
• Permitting a person under age 18 to enter or remain in or upon premises where methamphetamine is being manufactured
• Unlawful exposure to a controlled substance or to the unlawful manufacturing of a cannabinoid extract that subjects a child to a substantial risk of harm to their health or safety

Neglect

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 419B.005

The term 'abuse' includes negligent treatment or maltreatment of a child, including, but not limited to, the failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical care that is likely to endanger the health or welfare of the child.

Sexual Abuse/Exploitation

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 419B.005

The term 'abuse' includes any of the following:

• Rape of a child, which includes, but is not limited to, rape, sodomy, unlawful sexual penetration, and incest
• Sexual abuse, as described in chapter 163
• Sexual exploitation, including, but not limited to, the following:
  • Contributing to the sexual delinquency of a minor
  • Conduct that allows, employs, authorizes, permits, induces, or encourages a child to engage in the performing for people to observe, or the photographing, filming, tape recording, or other exhibition that, in whole or in part, depicts sexual conduct or contact, sexual abuse involving a child, or rape of a child
  • Allowing, permitting, encouraging, or hiring a child to engage in prostitution or a commercial sex act; to purchase sex with a minor; or to engage in commercial sexual solicitation

Emotional Abuse

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 419B.005

The term 'abuse' includes any mental injury to a child that shall include only observable and substantial impairment of the child's mental or psychological ability to function caused by cruelty to the child, with due regard to the culture of the child.

Abandonment

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 419B.508

The court may find that the parent has abandoned the child (and thereby terminate the parent's parental rights to the child) if the child was left under circumstances such that the identity of the parent of the child was unknown and could not be ascertained, despite diligent searching, and the parent has not come forward to claim the child within 3 months following the finding of the child.

Standards for Reporting

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 419B.010

A report is required when a public or private official has reasonable cause to believe that any child with whom the official comes in contact has suffered abuse or that any person with whom the official comes in contact has abused a child.

Persons Responsible for the Child

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 419B.005

'Responsible person' may include any person.

Exceptions

Citation: Rev. Stat. § 419B.005

Abuse does not include reasonable exercise of parental discipline unless the discipline results in physical injury of the child.