The Keane Law Firm is a San Francisco, CA based law office dedicated to seeking justice for children whose lives have been shattered by child abuse or neglect. Know what constitutes child abuse and neglect, and understand your responsibilities. Find out what you can do to help and how Attorney Christopher Keane and The Keane Law Firm can work with you to defend a child against abuse and neglect.
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Child Abuse

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Child Safety News

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Senator Linda Newell - SB10-171 - Senate Health and Human Services
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Texas reports a 31% increase in child abuse and neglect deaths.
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In Ohio, child welfare organizations increase child abuse education.
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The NFL and Roger Goodell now admit there may be a correlation between multiple concussions and permanent brain damage.
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The book entitled No one would believe it: Experiences of a child abuse investigator written by Evelyn Kelly Norman is available.
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In Wisconsin, The Child Welfare Disclosure Act requires some information be made public in child abuse cases.
Posted on 10/21/2009 More

Qualified pediatricians will take the first child abuse board examination on November 16, 2009.
Posted on 9/28/2009 More

Operation Twisted Traveler nets three more American men in a child sex abuse operation in Cambodia. The men are charged with sexual exploitation of Cambodian children.
Posted on 9/24/2009 More

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Child Abuse

Helping You Protect America’s Children Against Abuse and Neglect

Child abuse can take many forms.  It can manifest itself as the slow and insidious chronic neglect of a child by their primary caregiver, or it can be as shockingly apparent as a broken limb or a shaken baby.  Often, a single child will experience more than one kind of abuse or neglect.  For example, a child could suffer from sexual abuse at the hands of their father, witness ongoing domestic violence in their home, and could also have special education needs that are not being met by their parents.  Alternately, a child can suffer from a single kind of abuse, such as ongoing verbal abuse from their mother.  Even worse, across the United States, more than 2,000 children die each year from child abuse and neglect.

The information provided below will help you recognize the various types of child abuse and neglect, and most importantly help you understand your responsibilities and what you can do to help.  In cases of abuse or neglect resulting in broken bones, sexual abuse, brain injury, brain damage, shaken baby syndrome or death, The Keane Law Firm wants to work with you to seek justice for that child.

What is child abuse and neglect?

Federal law provides a foundation definition of child abuse and neglect in The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), which individual States must incorporate into their own definitions.  Basically, child abuse and neglect can be separated into four categories:  physical abuse, neglect, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse.

  • Physical Abuse:  Perhaps the most obvious form of child abuse is the physical abuse of a child or baby.  Regardless of the intent, any harm – from bruises to broken bones to brain damage to death – resulting from physical abuse such as hitting, kicking, shaking, throwing, or beating is considered abuse.  It is never acceptable to physically harm a child.
  • Child Neglect:  Child neglect is the most common type of abuse.  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Child Welfare Information Gateway estimates that 60% of abused children suffer from neglect.  Child neglect can take many forms.  The one-time failure of a parent or caregiver to properly supervise or care for a child is considered acute neglect, while the repeated, ongoing failure to supervise or care for a child is considered chronic neglect.  Neglect itself can include the failure to meet a child’s basic needs such as medical care, food, and shelter; the failure to attend to a child’s emotional needs or exposing the child to domestic violence; the failure to provide a child with education or to make allowances for a child’s special educational needs; or it can be subjecting the child to extreme corporeal punishment.
  • Emotional Abuse:  Children can also be subjected to emotional abuse at the hands of a parent or caregiver, and approximately 7% of abused children are emotionally abused.  Emotional abuse is generally defined as an ongoing pattern of treatment that negatively impacts a child’s emotional development.  This can include withholding affection or support, making threats to the child, excessive criticism of the child, or unnecessarily confining the child.
  • Sexual Abuse:  Finally, sexual abuse of a child includes any use of a child for sexual gratification.  This includes any inducement, persuasion, or coercion of a child to engage in or assist with sexual activity, including rape, child prostitution, indecent exposure, or exploitation of a child by production of pornographic materials.  The Child Welfare Information Gateway estimates that 10% of abused children experience some form of sexual abuse.

Know your responsibilities

If you suspect that a child is being abused and neglected, the best thing you can do to protect that child is to take action immediately.  It is very important to act quickly before that child’s life is irrevocably altered by a catastrophic event resulting from the abuse or neglect.  Not only is acting quickly in the child’s best interest, but it is also the law.  Anyone who could have prevented the child’s injury or could have reported the suspected abuse before the child was affected could be held liable for damages if they fail to act.

According to the latest statistics from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Child Welfare Information Gateway, professionals such as physicians, nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists, neuropsychologists, social workers, case managers, teachers, administrators and many others are responsible for reporting 56% of all alleged cases of child abuse or neglect.  44% of these cases are reported by nonprofessionals like friends, relatives, or neighbors.  It is important to know that in many States, including the State of California, most health practitioners and child care professionals are required to report suspected cases of abuse or neglect in a timely manner.  Failure to report is not only detrimental to the child in question, but can result in fines or jail time and being held liable in a civil lawsuit for physical injuries, disability, pain and suffering, medical bills, and future lost wages sustained by the injured child.

You may be comforted to know that child abuse and neglect reports are considered confidential, and individuals reporting cases of suspected abuse or neglect are protected from civil or criminal liability if the reporting was required by law or if the individual acted in good faith.  Clearly, you have nothing to lose and the child in question has everything to gain by your timely action.

All states identify specific agencies and departments to receive and investigate reports of suspected child abuse and neglect. Usually, this responsibility is carried out by child protective services (CPS) within a Department of Social Services or another similar name, such as Department of Human Resources.  In some States, police departments may also receive reports of child abuse or neglect. For more information or assistance with reporting suspected abuse and neglect, please call Childhelp®, 800-4-A-CHILD (800-422-4453), or your local CPS agency.  While The Keane Law Firm can help you correct the injustice done to abused children with a civil lawsuit, we are not affiliated with any government agencies designated or permitted to accept reports of abuse and neglect, so please follow your applicable state laws and report suspected abuse and neglect to the authorities.

In most cases, the toll-free numbers listed below are only accessible from within the State listed.  If you choose to call from out-of-State, use the local (toll) number listed or call Childhelp® for assistance. Also listed below are links to State websites, which can provide additional information.  Please see our resources section for the phone numbers for the various states.

The Keane Law Firm and You

While Attorney Christopher Keane and The Keane Law Firm specialize in cases from San Francisco and the State of California, they may also accept worthy cases from other states.  No matter where the child about whom you are concerned is located, you may rest assured that The Keane Law Firm possesses the knowledge and resources to provide you with the best representation and seek justice for that child.  Please contact The Keane Law Firm today.  We will work with you to defend America’s children against the horrors of abuse and neglect. 

California child abuse lawyers are available to help if you know a child who has been injured by abuse.  The Keane Law Firm has been recognized as having an AV rating - the highest legal ability and ethics rating available, and Christopher Keane has been rated as one of the leading plaintiff's lawyers and attorneys in America as a "tireless advocate for injured children".  Contact him today to see if he can help your child.  

DO YOU HAVE A CHILD ABUSE CASE OR LAWSUIT  AND NEED A CHILD ABUSE LAWYER OR ATTORNEY in California, San Francisco, Alameda, Albany, Berkeley, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Ashland, Castro Valley, Cherryland, San Lorenzo, Sunol, Livermore, Newark, Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton, San Leandro, Union City, Belvedere, Corte Madera, Fairfax, Greenbrae, Kentfield, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Novato, Ross, San Anselmo, San Rafael, Sausalito, Tiburon, Annapolis, Cloverdale, Geyserville, Cazadero, Healdsburg, Geurneville, Windsor, Napa, Napa Valley, Wine Country, Bay Area, Northern California, Fulton, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Bloomfield, Cotati, Sonoma, Petaluma, Antioch, Brentwood, Clayton, Concord, Danville, El Cerrito, Hercules, Lafayette, Martinez, Moraga, Oakley, Orinda, Pinole, Pittsburg, Pleasant Hill, Richmond, San Pablo, San Ramon, Walnut Creek, Modesto, Atherton, Belmont, Brisbane, Burlingame, Colma, Daly City, East Palo Alto, El Granada, Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Hillsborough, La Honda, Loma Mar, Menlo Park, Millbrae, Montara, Moss Beach, Pacifica, Pescadero, Portola Valley, Princeton By The Sea, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, San Gregorio, San Mateo, South San Francisco, West Menlo Park, Woodside, San Jose, San Diego, Los Angeles, Adin, Modoc County, Alturas, Anderson, Shasta County, Bartle, Siskiyou County, Beckwourth, Plumas County, Berry Creek, Butte County, Bieber, Lassen County, Big Bend, Shasta County, Blairsden, Plumas County, Biggs, Butte County, Burney, Shasta County, Burnt Ranch, Trinity County, Butte Valley, Siskiyou County, Callahan, Canby, Canyon Dam, Cassel, Castella, Cedarville, Chester, Chico, Chilcoot, Clio, Coffee Creek, Corning, Tehama County, Cottonwood, Crescent Mills, Cromberg, Dorris, Dunsmuir, Durham, Edgewood, Etna, Fall River Mills, Forks of Salmon, Fort Bidwell, Fort Jones, French Gulch, Gazelle, Graeagle, Greenview, Greenville, Gridley, Happy Camp, Hat Creek, Hayfork, Helena, Herlong, Lassen County, Hilt, Hornbrook, Horse Creek, Hyampom, Janesville, Johnstonville, Johnsville, Junction City, Trinity County, Klamath River, La Porte, Lakehead, Lewiston, Likely, Los Molinos, Macdoel, Mad River, Manton, McArthur, McCloud, Millville, Mineral, Montague, Mount Hebron, Mount Shasta, Newell, Nubieber, Old Station, Oroville, Palermo, Palo Cedro, Paradise, Paynes Creekis, Platina, Pondosa, Portola, Quincy, Ravendale, Redding, Ruth, Salyer, Sawyers Bar, Scott Bar, Seiad Valley, Shasta, Shasta Lake City, Shingletown, Lake Tahoe, Somes Bar, Susanville, Taylorsville, Trinity Center, Tulelake, Vina, Vinton, Weaverville, Weed, Westwood, Willow Ranch, Yreka, San Francisco County, Alameda County, Marin County, San Mateo County, Sonoma County, Stanislaus County, Contra Costa County, Los Angeles County?

Call The Keane Law Firm toll-free at 1-888-592-KIDS (5437).

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