You’ve probably heard this before – certainly if you follow our blog – that certain crimes were very likely underreported during the pandemic. Many experts believe that domestic violence and child abuse and neglect, all crimes whose numbers dropped significantly on paper, were not in fact down, but rather just not being accurately reported during […]
Archive | Child Abuse
Calls to CPS Have Dropped. But is it Under-reporting? Or Fewer Abuse Cases?
The CPS hotline is usually a very busy one. With calls coming in by the hundreds every week from teachers, neighbors, family members, medical professionals and police, CPS workers are constantly being notified about new possible cases of child abuse and neglect. But who do the majority of the calls come in from? This may […]
Why You Can’t Use an Object to Spank a Child During Discipline
There are many parents in Michigan who discipline their children using some form of corporal punishment. Spanking, in most cases, takes the form of a smack administered by hand to a child’s bottom, and this is a form of discipline that Michigan law allows. Although, as you’ll remember from our previous article on corporal punishment, […]
How to Tell The Difference Between Child Abuse And Corporal Punishment
This is a tough subject. And not just because child abuse is an inflamatory subject, or because people have very strong opinions about whether or not corporal punishment is an acceptable form of discipline. This is a tough subject because, contrary to popular belief, the law isn’t actually as “black and white” as you’d think. […]
Are CPS Workers Now Also Mandatory Reporters For Animal Abuse in Michigan?
abuse and animal abuse often happen hand-in-hand, and homes where animals are mistreated will often be the places where children are mistreated as well. When people think of the words “CPS worker” and “mandatory reporter” they tend to think in terms of child abuse. Specifically, the fact that CPS workers are mandatory reporters themselves, and […]
Should Michigan Child Abuse Laws Change For Cases Involving Vulnerable Children?
A recent Michigan case has resulted in people pushing for harsher punishments if the child abused is particularly vulnerable, like kids with autism. When a person is convicted of abusing or neglecting a child in Michigan, there are rather specific sentencing ranges that Judges have to use when sentencing them to prison. First Degree Child […]
Can Education Reduce Child Abuse Numbers in Michigan?
Will raising awareness and teaching people how to recognize child abuse , along with better equipping parents make a difference in reducing Michigan’s high child abuse numbers? April was child abuse prevention month, and all over Michigan nonprofits and other organizations came together to raise awareness and funding to combat child abuse. Then, just a […]
MCTF to Host Discussion Panel on Substance Abuse and Child Abuse
The Michigan Children’s Trust Fund will hold the first in a series of panels aimed at highlighting how substance disorders can lead to child abuse and neglect. It has long been known that substance abuse and child abuse tend to go hand in hand. Parents trapped in a cycle of drug or alcohol abuse often […]
How CPS Handles Abuse Investigations When Drugs Are Involved (Pt 1)
Drug use, especially opioid addiction, can have a lasting impact on a family and put children at risk. Drug abuse, specifically opioid abuse, is a growing problem in Michigan. Stats show that between 1992 and 2006 the number of people admitted for drug-related health concerns tripled, and the numbers have only grown from there. More […]
What is ‘Brittle Bone Disease’ And Why Does it Matter to CPS?(Pt 2)
Welcome back and thanks for joining us. We’ve been talking about brittle bone disease and how it’s been the cause of so many falsely accused parents here in Michigan. As we pointed out before, in the previous article, most cases of brittle bone disease happen when worried parents take their crying babies to hospital to […]
