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IDENTIFYING AND REPORTING CHILD ABUSE

PURPOSE: TO ESTABLISH POLICY AND GUIDELINES FOR MILITARY POLICE RESPONDING TO COMPLAINTS OF CHILD ABUSE IN THE BAMBERG MILITARY COMMUNITY.

CHILD ABUSE: NON-ACCIDENTAL INJURY OR HARM COMMITTED AGAINST A CHILD BY A PARENT, GUARDIAN OR ANY OTHER PERSON WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT CHILD’S WELFARE ON A TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT BASIS.

THE GENERAL DEFINITION OF CHILD ABUSE INCLUDES: PHYSICAL ABUSE SEXUAL ABUSE EMOTIONAL ABUSE NEGLECT

PHYSICAL ABUSE

PHYSICAL ABUSE: THE INTENTIONAL, NON-ACCIDENTAL PHYSICAL INJURY TO A CHILD INFLICTED BY A PARENT, GUARDIAN OR OTHER PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CHILD’S WELFARE ON A TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT BASIS. INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO: SLAPPING PUNCHING SHAKING HAIR PULLING HITTING KICKING BITING CHOKING

SIGNS OF PHYSICAL ABUSE: UNEXPLAINED BRUISES AND WELTS ON FACE, LIPS, MOUTH, TORSO, BACK, BUTTOCKS OR THIGHS BRUISES IN VARIOUS STAGES OF HEALING BRUISES OR WELTS THAT REFLECT THE SHAPE OF ARTICLE USED TO INFLICT THE INJURY (BELT BUCKLE, ELECTRIC CORD, ETC.) BRUISES OR WELTS IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT AREAS BALD PATCHES ON SCALP

BRUISES OR WELTS THAT REGULARLY APPEAR AFTER ABSENCE, WEEKENDS, OR VACATIONS UNEXPLAINED BURNS FROM CIGARETTES OR CIGARS (ESPECIALLY ON SOLES OF FEET, PALMS OF HANDS, BACK OR BUTTOCKS) BURNS IN THE PATTERN OF A ELECTRIC BURNER OR IRON IMMERSION BURNS FROM HOT LIQUIDS UNEXPLAINED FRACTURES/DISLOCATIONS TO SKULL, NOSE, FACIAL STRUCTURES

POSSIBLE BEHAVIOR: CHILD FEELS DESERVING OF PUNISHMENT APPREHENSIVE WHEN OTHER CHILDREN CRY FRIGHTENED OF PARENTS LIES VERY STILL WHILE SURVEYING SURROUNDINGS AFRAID TO GO HOME REPORTS INJURY BY PARENTS POOR SELF ESTEEM WARY OF ADULT CONTACT BEHAVIORAL EXTREMES (AGGRESSION/WITHDRAWAL) MANIPULATIVE BEHAVIOR TO GET ATTENTION

SEXUAL ABUSE

SEXUAL ABUSE: PHYSICAL INDICATORS: DIFFICULTY IN WALKING OR SITTING TORN, STAINED OR BLOODY UNDERCLOTHING PAIN, SWELLING OR ITCHING IN GENITAL AREA PAIN ON URINATION BRUISES, BLEEDING OR LACERATIONS IN EXTERNAL GENATALIA, VAGINAL OR ANAL AREAS VAGINAL/PENILE DISCHARGE VEHERAL DISEASE

CHILD NEGLECT: ABLE, BUT NEGLECTING TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE FOOD, SHELTER, CLOTHING, SUPERVISION, MEDICAL CARE OR EDUCATION INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO: *MEDICAL/DENTAL NEGLECT *NUTRITIONAL NEGLECT *LACK OF SUPERVISION *EXPOSURE TO DANGER *EDUCATION NEGLECT *ABANDONMENT *INAPPROPRIATE/INSUFFICIENT CLOTHING

CHILD NEGLECT: PHYSICAL INDICATORS: UNDERWEIGHT, POOR GROWTH PATTERN FAILURE TO THRIVE CONSISTENT HUNGER POOR HYGIENE INAPPROPRIATE CLOTHING UNATTENDED PHYSICAL PROBLEMS OR MEDICAL NEEDS

CHILD NEGLECT: POSSIBLE BEHAVIORS: BEGGING OR STEALING FOOD EXTENDED STAYS WITH NON-PARENT CAREGIVER CONSTANT FATIGUE ASSUMES ADULT RESPONSIBLITIES AND CONCERNS STATES THERE IS NO CAREGIVER

INSTITUTIONAL CHILD ABUSE: ANY ACT OF CHILD PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL OR SEXUAL ABUSE OR CHILD NEGLECT COMMITTED BY AN EMPLOYEE OR VOLUNTEER IN A DOD SANCTIONED ACTIVITY. INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO: * ACS * UNIT ACTIVITIES * DODDS SCHOOLS * CDS * YS * SCOUTS * CHAPEL PROGRAMS

INDICATORS OF INSTITUTIONAL CHILD ABUSE: CHILD REFUSES TO GO TO THE BATHROOM WITH A PARTICULAR CAREGIVER CHILD SHOWS EXTREME FEAR OF A CAREGIVER CAREGIVER SPENDS LONG PERIODS OUT OF SIGHT WITH ONE CHILD CHILD STATES INJURY BY A CAREGIVER PARENT MENTIONS CHILD HAS EXTREME REACTIONS WHEN CARE SETTING IS MENTIONED CAREGIVER USES HARSH DISCIPLINE WITH CHILDREN CAREGIVER LEAVES CHILD UNATTENDED

MILITARY POLICE PATROL PROCEDURES (IAW 279 TH BSB PMO SOP)

PROCEED TO THE SCENE WHEN DISPATCHED. ASSESS THE SITUATION AND REPORT INITIAL OBSERVATIONS TO THE DESK SERGEANT. FORCE WILL NOT BE USED TO OVERCOME REFUSAL BY A PARENT, GUARDIAN OR DESIGNATED BABY-SITTER TO EFFECT AN APPREHENSION TO TRANSPORT OR INSPECT A CHILD UNLESS DEATH OR SERIOUS BODILY HARM TO THE CHILD IS IMMINENT AND NOT OTHERWISE PREVENTABLE. PARENTS WILL BE NOTIFIED THAT A MILITARY POLICE PATROL WILL REMAIN ON-SCENE UNTIL ARRIVAL OF THE SPONSOR’S UNIT COMMANDER OR SUPERVISOR IF THE SPONSOR IS A CIVILIAN. ATTEMPT TO COLLECT INFORMATION TO DETERMINE IF A CRIME HAS BEEN COMMITTED WITHOUT BEING JUDGMENTAL. WHEN CHILD ABUSE IS REPORTED, ASK TO SEE CHILD/CHILDREN AND LOOK FOR INDICATIONS OF INJURY. CHILDREN WILL NOT BE TRANSPORTED BY MILITARY POLICE PATROLS WITHOUT APPROVAL FROM THE DESK SERGEANT.

WHEN INJURY IS APPARENT OR PROBABLE, MILITARY POLICE WILL ENSURE THAT EXAMINATION AND TREATMENT AS NECESSARY OF THE VICTIM BY COMPETANT MEDICAL AUTHORITIES IS CONDUCTED AND THAT AN EVALUATION IS MADE TO POSSIBLE OR PROBABLE CAUSE OF INJURIES. APPROPRIATE MILITARY POLICE REGULATIONS REGARDING REPORTING OF SERIOUS INFLICTED INJURIES WILL BE FOLLOWED. IN ALL CASES OF SEVERE INFLICTED TRAUMA, A REQUEST WILL BE MADE TO CID FOR COMPLETE PICTURES OF ALL INJURIES. IF THE CHILD’S CONDITION PERMITS, THESE PICTURES SHOULD BE TAKEN IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM. ALL COMPLAINTS WILL BE RECORDED ON THE BLOTTER AS “PROTECTED IDENTITY”. CASES DETERMINED TO BE UNFOUNDED AT THE SCENE WILL BE REFLECTED IN THE INITIAL ENTRY OR IN A REFERENCE ENTRY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

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