[Added 11-24-2020 by Ord.
No. 14-2020; amended 8-11-2021 by Ord. No. 15-2021]
Under New Jersey law (N.J.S.A. 6-8.21), an abused or neglected
child is anyone "under the age of 18 who is caused harm by a parent,
guardian or other person having custody or control of that minor."
A child who is under the age of eighteen (18) is considered to be
abused or neglected when a parent, caregiver, another child or another
adult does one of more of the following:
1.
Inflicts or allows to be inflicted physical injury by other
than accidental means that creates substantial harm or risk of substantial
harm, and/or
2.
Fails to provide proper supervision or adequate food, clothing,
shelter, education or medical care although financially able or assisted
to do so, and/or
3.
Commits or allows to be committed an act of sexual abuse against
a child.
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Child abuse can have long-term effects on victims. A lack of
trust and difficulty with healthy relationships is common, as is a
core feeling of worthlessness and low self-esteem. There may even
be long-term trouble with regulating emotions that can lead to destructive
behaviors.
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There are typically four common types of abuse:
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The failure to meet a child's basic needs, physically or emotionally,
which is called neglect.
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The intentional use of physical force that results in injury,
which is called physical abuse.
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The practice of any behaviors that harm a child's feelings of
self-worth or emotional well-being, which is emotional
abuse.
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Engaging in sexual acts with a child including pornography,
which is sexual abuse.
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Unfortunately, statistics reflect that abuse is all too common
in any form.
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In New Jersey, abuse reports involving 80,000 children are filed
each year. 50,000 of those children receive prevention and post-response
services.
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75% of the cases involve neglect, 18% of the cases involve physical
abuse, and psychological abuse accounts for 7% of the cases.
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55% of the perpetrators are female, while males account for
45%.
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Sadly, child abuse is a vicious cycle, in that 30% of abused
children will later abuse their own children.
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The statistics and characteristics pertaining to sexual abuse are sobering and equally as disheartening:
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"Peer-to-Peer" abuse is by far
the most common, where one or more children or adolescent(s) sexually
abuses or inappropriately touches another. Legally, the abuser must
be at least 4 years older to trigger the statute. The American
Psychological Association reports this type of abuse is driven
by power and dominance, the same factors that drive bullying within
this age group. In fact, bullying can be a precursor to sexual abuse,
especially when there is a lack of supervision.
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In contrast, "adult-to-child" abuse
is typically thought out and planned in advance, demanding access
and privacy and control. These three factors demand a specific type
of relationship and setting, meaning that 90% of juvenile sexual abuse
victims know their abuser. The scope of the problem is massive: by
the age of 18, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys have experienced sexual
abuse. From those figures, 88% of those molestations are attributed
to individuals with pedophilia. Pedophilia is a psychotic
disorder in which an adult or adolescent demonstrates a primary sexual
attraction to prepubescent children. It is important,
however, not to confuse pedophilia with actual child molestation,
as many pedophiles never act on their attractions.
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Child sexual abusers are not always easy to spot. Though 7 out
of every 8 molesters are male, they match the general population in
ethnicity, religion, education, and marital status. So there is no
stereotype, especially since abusers go to great lengths to blend
in. However, only 10% of them abuse children that they don't know,
and 68% look no further than their own families for victims.
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40% of abusers first begin molesting children before they themselves
reach the age of 15, and the vast majority before the age of 20.
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Adolescent abusers generally begin their acts of abuse on younger
siblings.
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Most sexual abuse occurs within the family. However, molesters
can gain access to children outside of their own families through
employment or volunteer work with an organization that works primarily
with children. This allows them both time alone with potential victims
and the ability to build trust and credibility. In fact, child abusers
are often known and respected in their communities for dedication
to children.
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In terms of a victim profile, it is important to remember that,
although there are characteristics that make some children more vulnerable,
every child is in danger. Passive, lonely or troubled children, especially
those who live with step-parents or single parents may be targeted.
Children between the ages of 7 and 13 years old are most at risk,
and children from low socioeconomic backgrounds or rural areas are
more likely to be victimized.
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Molesters have behavioral patterns that can be identified as "grooming" their victims. Sexual abuse is
rarely violent. The molester's goal is to solicit compliance by beginning
to win the victim's trust. There might be pet names, gifts to foster
exclusivity and encouragement to "keep secrets." The molester might
begin to spend time with the victim outside of the regular program
or schedule, contacting parents to become involved in a child's life
in some capacity, like babysitting. For this reason, many parents
are shocked after abuse comes to light simply because the abuser seemed
trustworthy. Inevitably, the favoritism is not enough to keep the
victim silent any more, and the abuser resorts to threats —
threats that play off of a child's guilt over the sexual contact.
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During the grooming process and abuse, victims often begin to
show signs such as sexual behaviors or strong sexual language that
is too adult for their age. Many children feel at fault after the
abuse and begin to suffer guilt and depression, even resorting to
self-harm. They may begin to display cuts and scratches or other self-inflicted
injuries. However, some children are naive and unaware of the gravity
of the abusive nature of their experience. Research shows that children
often delay reporting sexual abuse. They should not be disbelieved
just because they waited a long time to seek help.
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In the State of New Jersey every level of government has a role
in protecting minors.
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At the State level:
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State law is enforced through the NJ Family Division of the
State court system. The court has broad powers including the ability
to remove children from dangerous situations.
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The Department of Children and Families, specifically the Division
of Child Protection and Permanency, combines all state operations
intended to safeguard children into a single, coordinated program
working closely with the Courts, legal advocates and law enforcement.
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The Department of Corrections operates adult prisons and youth
correctional centers to deal with perpetrators, while individual counties
operate youth detention centers and special purpose schools.
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At the local level:
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Educational professionals have the most contact with children,
meaning they are often the first to detect issues.
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Housing Authority employees may also frequently come into contact
with children.
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Municipalities and counties operate or sponsor a variety of
programs that involve children including but not limited to:
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Recreation programs
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Before and After Care programs
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Youth sports leagues
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Youth centers
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Youth in Government programs
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Junior law enforcement training programs
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The role of Police and law enforcement agencies is especially important. Police officers assist in resolving reported
situations, often acting as first identifiers. In New Jersey, police
are given broad authority to protect children, including the authority
to remove them from their parents or caregivers without a court order
if necessary to prevent imminent danger to a child. Under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act, a law enforcement officer must make an arrest when the officer
finds "probable cause" that domestic violence has occurred. This holds
even if the victim refuses to make a complaint. The Act is invoked
in situations where the victim exhibits signs of injury caused by
domestic violence, when a warrant is in effect, or when there is probable
cause to believe that a weapon has been involved in an act of domestic
violence. Abusers often use psychological tactics or coercive control
over their partners, such as making threats to prevent a victim from
leaving or contacting friends, family or police. But even if these
conditions are not met, an officer may still make an arrest or sign
a criminal complaint if there is probable cause to believe acts of
domestic violence have been committed. Now if there is no visible
sign of injury but the victim states that an injury did, in fact,
occur, the officer must take other factors into consideration in determining
probable cause.
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The City of Linwood is committed to the safety of all individuals
in its community, however, the City of Linwood has particular concern
for those who are potentially vulnerable, including minor children.
The City of Linwood regards the abuse of children as abhorrent in
all its forms and pledges to hold its officials, employees and volunteers
to the highest standards of conduct in interacting with children.
Statistics show that 93% of victims under the age of 18 know the abuser.
Further, a perpetrator does not have to be an adult to harm a child
but are typically in a caregiver role. They can have any relationship
to the child including a playmate, family member, a teacher, a coach,
or instructor.
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The City of Linwood is fully committed to protecting the health,
safety and welfare of minors who interact with officials, employees,
and volunteers of the City of Linwood to the maximum extent possible.
These Policy and Procedures establish the guidelines for officials,
employees, and volunteers who set policy for the City of Linwood or
may work with or interact with individuals under 18 years of age,
and those who supervise employees, and volunteers who may work with
or interact with individuals under 18 years of age, with the goal
of promoting the safety and wellbeing of minors.
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This Model Policy provides guidelines that apply broadly to
interactions between minors and officials, employees, and volunteers
in programs operated by the City of Linwood or affiliated programs
or activities. All officials, employees, and volunteers are responsible
for understanding and complying with this policy.
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Authorized Adult - Individuals,
age 18 and older, paid or unpaid, who interact with, supervise, chaperone,
or otherwise oversee and/or interact with minors in program activities,
recreational, and/or residential facilities. The authorized adults'
roles may include positions as counselors, chaperones, coaches, instructors,
etc
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Child or Minor - A person
under the age of eighteen (18).
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Department Heads - Appointed
department heads of the employer, including the chief administrative
officer, and any assistants.
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Direct Contact - Positions
with the possibility of care, supervision, guidance or control of
children or routine interaction with children.
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Dual Reporting — Reporting
possible abuse to both the New Jersey Department of Children and Families
and law enforcement at the same time by the individual designated
by the employer to report all possible cases of abuse.
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Employees, Staff, or Counselors — Persons working for the employer on a full-time or
part-time basis, and compensated by the employer.
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Facilities - Facilities
owned by, under the control of, or rented or leased to the employer.
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Grooming - When someone
builds a relationship, trust and emotional connection with a child
or young person so they can manipulate, exploit and abuse them. Refer
to Appendix B for more detailed information on grooming.
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NJMEL JIF - New Jersey Municipal
Excess Liability Fund Joint Insurance Fund.
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Officials — Elected
officials of the employer, appointed board members, and authority
commissioners.
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One-On-One Contact - Personal,
unsupervised interaction between any authorized adult and a participant
without at least one other authorized adult, parent or legal guardian
being present.
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Programs - Programs and
activities offered or sponsored by the employer.
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Volunteers - Individuals
volunteering their time to provide services to the employer who are
not on the payroll and receive no compensation.
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The City of Linwood is charged with protecting the health, safety,
and welfare of all its citizens, including children under the age
of 18. To that end, the City of Linwood is firmly committed to protecting
children under the care and supervision of the City of Linwood from
all forms of physical, mental, sexual and emotional abuse. The City
of Linwood is committed to establishing and implementing safeguards
to eliminate opportunities for abuse of children entrusted to the
care of the City of Linwood. The procedures outlined below shall apply
to all officials, employees, and volunteers of the City of Linwood.
i.
All prospective employees and volunteers shall undergo a thorough
and complete background check, including the following:
2.
For full-time employees in supervisory positions involving minors:
a.
National Database Criminal History Search
b.
National Sex Offender Search
c.
Social Security Trace/Validation
d.
Education Verification
e.
Employment Verification
f.
Credit Check
g.
Motor Vehicle Record
h.
Reference Check
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Many local governments hire minor children to work in their
summer or seasonal programs. It may be difficult to obtain any background
information for minors. It is recommended that the local government
attempt to verify any past employment for minors between 16 and 18
years of age, with consent of the parents or guardians.
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Recognizing that fingerprint identification checks may not yield
results in time for hiring purposes, the NJMEL assembled a list of
qualified vendors for background checks through an RFQ process, and
the five vendors on the list along with their contact information
can be found at the following link on the NJMEL website. https://njmel.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/RFQ-Results-21-02-background-Check-Services.pdf
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Written documentation of the background check shall be maintained
by the City of Linwood in perpetuity.
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ii.
Background checks that disclose any negative or questionable
results must be reviewed and approved by the Employer prior to the individual being
hired and/or working with minors. Provisional hiring
should not permitted.
iii.
All prospective employees and volunteers must complete the training
adopted by the Employer PRIOR TO starting employment or volunteer service. In addition to completing the training course adopted
by the Employer, it is highly recommended that
all volunteer coaches shall complete the Rutgers SAFETY Clinic course
(Sports Awareness for Educating Today's Youth ™)
which is a three-hour program that meets the "Minimum Standards for
Volunteer Coaches Safety Orientation and Training Skills Programs"
under (N.J.A.C. 5:52) and provides partial civil immunity protection
to volunteer coaches under the "Little League Law" (2A:62A-6 et. seq.)
The current Rutgers Safety Clinic Course includes a module on the
sexual abuse of minors. If coaches completed the Rutgers course more
than five years ago and it did not have any training on the sexual
abuse of minors, it is highly recommended that the coaches be required
to watch the video on the MEL website. Documentation verifying that
the coaches watched and understood their responsibilities must be
kept to confirm that the training was completed.
iv.
The City of Linwood shall periodically re-check and document
the Megan's Law directory for New Jersey to make certain that current
employees are not listed.
v.
Once employed, authorized Adults who are employed are required
to notify the appropriate Human Resources representative of an arrest
(charged with a misdemeanor or felony) or conviction for an offense
within 72 hours of knowledge of the arrest or conviction in order
to ascertain the fitness of those employees and volunteers to interact
with children.
Under New Jersey Law, an official may be held liable for the
abuse or neglect of a child if he or she fails to implement appropriate
safeguards to protect the child while the minor has been entrusted
to the care of the City of Linwood. Most importantly, recent changes
in the law in New Jersey extended the statute of limitations for child
abuse and neglect cases substantially, thus placing local officials
and employees at a far greater risk. A valid cause of action can be
filed by an alleged victim well after the official has left office.
It is, therefore, critically important for officials to establish
and monitor policies and procedures designed to safeguard minors entrusted
to the care of the City of Linwood.
1.
Officials of the City of Linwood are required to:
a.
Complete the initial training course adopted by the City of
Linwood, and any updated/refresher course, in order to better understand
their legal duties and responsibilities under Federal and NJ State
Law. The training program will include the following concepts:
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Recognizing the signs of abuse and neglect of minors.
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Establishing guidelines for protecting minors from emotional
and physical abuse and neglect.
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Understanding and being prepared to implement the procedures
necessary to eliminate opportunities for abuse.
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Becoming familiar with the legal requirements to report suspected
cases of abuse.
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Fully understanding the legal consequences for not being diligent
in making certain that employees of the City of Linwood adhere to
all policies and procedures as adopted.
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b.
Meet annually with all Department
Heads to review the "Policy Addressing Sexual Abuse of Minors," and
to verify that the administration is adhering to this policy which
includes all of the following provisions. If the
policy is not being adhered to, it is the legal obligation of the
officials of the City of Linwood to implement whatever changes are
necessary as soon as possible to make certain the policy is followed.
c.
Conduct random and unannounced visits to program sites to observe the setup of the programs and
conduct of the employees and volunteers of the City of Linwood.
All City of Linwood programs operated by, sponsored by, or affiliated
with the Employer shall comply with the following procedures. All
officials, employees, and volunteers who interact with or could possibly
interact with minors, and those employees who supervise employees
who interact with or could possibly interact with minors, shall adhere
to the following policy.
The following policies shall apply to all programs offered by, sponsored by or affiliated with the City of Linwood.
As an essential element of compliance with the overall objective of
protecting and addressing the safe treatment of minors, the City of
Linwood shall:
1.
Establish a written procedure for the notification of the minor's
parent/legal guardian in case of an emergency, including medical or
behavioral problem, natural disasters, or other significant program
disruptions. Authorized Adults with the program, as well as participants
and their parents/legal guardians, must be advised of this procedure
in writing prior to the participation of the minors in the program.
In addition, the City of Linwood shall provide information to parents
or legal guardians detailing the manner in which the participant can
be contacted during the program.
2.
Make certain that all program participants provide a Medical Treatment Authorization form annually to
the Employer.
3.
Implement and adopt a "Code of Conduct" for volunteer and paid staff members which, at a minimum, will include the following:
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Code of Conduct
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Staff members will, at all times, respect the rights of program
participants and use positive techniques of guidance including positive
reinforcement and encouragement.
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Staff members will portray a positive role model for youth by
maintaining an attitude of respect, loyalty, patience, courtesy, tact,
and maturity.
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Staff members shall not transport children in their own vehicles,
unless written authorization from the child's parent or guardian has
been received.
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Members of the staff shall not be alone with children they meet
in the programs outside of the camp. This includes babysitting, sleepovers,
and inviting children to their home.
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Staff members shall, at all times, be visible to other staff
members while supervising minors. Any exceptions require a written
explanation before the fact and approval of the Program Director.
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Staff members will appear neat, clean, and appropriately attired.
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Staff members will refrain from intimate displays of affection
towards others in the presence of children, parents and staff.
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Staff members are required to refrain from texting, and posting
or checking any of the social media outlets while they are working
or volunteering. The only exception is for texting for the purposes
of communicating with another staff member or parent regarding a programmatic
issue pertaining to a child.
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Staff members are prohibited from buying gifts for program participants.
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In addition to the Code of Conduct, the following shall be a
part of the specific program provisions:
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The possession or use of alcohol and other drugs, fireworks,
guns and other weapons is prohibited.
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The City of Linwood shall set forth rules and procedures governing
when and under what circumstances participants may leave the Employer
property during the program.
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No violence, including sexual abuse or harassment, will be tolerated.
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Hazing of any kind is prohibited. Bullying including verbal,
physical, and cyber bullying are prohibited and will be addressed
immediately.
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No theft of property will be tolerated.
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No use of tobacco products will be tolerated.
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Misuse or damage of Employer property is prohibited. Charges
will be assessed against those participants who are responsible for
damage or misuse of property.
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The inappropriate use of cameras, imaging, and digital devices
is prohibited including use of such devices in showers, restrooms,
or other areas where privacy is expected by participants.
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Under no circumstances are any images of any child taken during
any of the activities conducted or sponsored by the City of Linwood
to be shared on any social media platform without the expressed written
consent of a parent or legal guardian.
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If possible the City of Linwood shall assign a staff member
who is at least 21 years of age to be accessible to participants.
Additional Authorized Adults will be assigned to ensure one-on-one
contact with minors does not occur and that appropriate levels of
supervision are implemented.
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Take appropriate steps to make certain that children are not
released to anyone other than the authorized parent, guardian, or
other adult authorized by the parent or guardian. This shall include
annual written authorization on file in advance.
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Develop and make available to participants and their parents
or guardians, the rules and discipline measures applicable to the
program. Program participants and staff must abide by all regulations
and may be removed from the program for non-compliance with rules.
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The recommended ratio of counselors to program participants
should reflect the gender distribution of the participants, and should
meet the following:
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One staff member for every six participants ages 4 and 5
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One staff member for every eight participants ages 6 to 8
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One staff member for every ten participants ages 9 to 14
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One staff member for every twelve participants ages 15 to 17
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Responsibilities of the counselors must include, at a minimum,
informing program participants about safety and security procedures,
rules established by the program, and behavioral expectations. Counselors
are responsible for following and enforcing all rules and must be
able to provide information included herein to program participants
and be able to respond to emergencies.
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Specific Policy and Procedures for Use of Restrooms by Children/Minors
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All restrooms shall be checked in advance by staff persons before
minor children enter to make certain that no other individuals are
present.
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Staff members (of the same sex) are to stand guard at the doorway
to make certain that no one else enters the restroom while a child
is there. Children should not be permitted enter restrooms in pairs
or in groups, unless it is absolutely necessary.
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For field trips, staff members must monitor bathroom use by
minor children and shall not permit a child to enter a restroom alone.
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Law enforcement officers of the City of Linwood frequently interact
with minors in a variety of ways. In addition to the guidance provided
by the Attorney General's Office, it is important to establish guidelines
to assist law enforcement officers in being aware of how to act and
react in these circumstances. To that end, the Chief of Police or
his or her designee of the City of Linwood shall formulate a written
policy addressing the safe treatment of minors for consideration and
approval by the governing body for law enforcement officers who interact
with minors.
The policy shall, at a minimum, incorporate and address the
following:
a.
Transporting minors in a police vehicle. Whenever possible, victims or alleged victims of sexual assault
or other crimes, or minors removed from a situation for protective
purposes, shall be transported by two officers (at least one of whom
shall be of the same sex as the victim) in unmarked vehicles that
do not have a prisoner compartment/partition. Officers transporting
a minor for whatever reason shall document starting and stopping mileage
through radio contact.
b.
Directives issued by the NJ State Attorney General pertaining
to interaction with minors shall be incorporated into the policy.
c.
The following provisions from the "Code of Conduct" for counselors shall be included in the policy for officers
assigned to work in school settings (i.e. Class 3 officers):
i.
Officers will, at all times, respect the rights of students
and use positive techniques of guidance including positive reinforcement
and encouragement.
ii.
Officers will portray a positive role model for
youth by maintaining an attitude of respect, loyalty, patience, courtesy,
tact, and maturity.
iii.
Officers shall not transport children in their
own vehicles. Officers shall not arrange to see students outside of
school and this includes babysitting, sleepovers, and inviting children
to their home. Any exceptions require a written explanation before
the fact and approval of the Chief.
iv.
Officers shall make certain that they are neat,
clean, and appropriately attired.
v.
Officers will refrain from intimate displays of affection towards
others in the presence of children, parents and staff. Officers shall
not buy gifts for students at any time.
vi.
All officers are required to complete the initial
training course offered by the NJMEL JIF, and any refresher courses
as well.
Individual training courses have been designed for each of the
following categories and all officials,
employees, and volunteers of the City of Linwood are required to complete
training (and refresher course training) adopted by the City of Linwood.
ALL employees of the City of Linwood shall complete the training course
whether they interact with children/minors or not. Although training
records will be maintained, it is recommended that each City of Linwood
and individual trainees also keep copies of their own training records.
a.
Elected Officials, Appointed Officials, Department
Heads, and Supervisors:
All elected officials, appointed officials, department heads,
and supervisors shall complete the initial virtual training course
offered by the NJMEL, "Protecting Children From Abuse" and adopted by the City of Linwood, and any updated/refresher
course, in order to better understand their legal duties and responsibilities
under Federal and NJ State Law. The course includes the following:
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Recognizing the signs of abuse and neglect of minors.
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Establishing guidelines for protecting minors from emotional
and physical abuse and neglect.
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Understanding and being prepared to implement the procedures
necessary to eliminate opportunities for abuse.
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Becoming familiar with the legal requirements to report suspected
cases of abuse.
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Fully understanding the legal consequences for not being diligent
in making certain that employees of the City of Linwood adhere to
all policies and procedures as adopted.
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b.
Volunteers and Employees of the City of Linwood
All employees and volunteers (regardless of whether they will
be working with children or not) shall complete training provided
by the NJMEL in the form of the "Protecting Children" video on protecting children on the MEL website and found
at: https://njmel.org/mel-safety-institute/model-policies/protecting-children-videos/
i.
Content of course shall include:
In light of the importance and priority placed on safeguarding
the health and safety of minors, it is critically important that suspected
cases of child abuse and neglect are reported as soon as possible. As a government official, employee or volunteer,
you are legally required to report suspected child abuse. This requirement
includes all governmental officials, employees and volunteers.
The following procedures shall be utilized in reporting suspected
cases of abuse. The City of Linwood shall also train officials, department
heads, employees and volunteers in the concept of "dual reporting" which involves reporting the suspected abuse to local law enforcement
in addition to reporting the abuse to the Department of Children and
Families. Reporting suspected abuse to local law enforcement is critically
important in cases where there is the potential for violence.
Child Abuse is hard thing to talk about, especially with victims.
The most important thing to remember is to show calm reassurance
and unconditional support. Avoid interrogation and leading
questions. Understand that denial and embarrassment are common reactions.
Don't display disbelief, shock, or disgust. Instead, be reassuring.
Make sure the child knows that they did nothing wrong. Reassure them
that this is not their fault and make sure they know that you take
it seriously.
Interviewing children to investigate sexual abuse requires highly
technical expertise. Do not "investigate" an abuse situation.
Do not interrogate the child. The investigation will
be undertaken by those who are trained to undertake that critical
task. Instead report it immediately, as shown below. And finally,
keep safety as the priority. If there is the possibility of violence
against yourself or the child, get the appropriate professionals or
agencies involved as soon as possible, and report the abuse to local
law enforcement.
It is recommended that, whenever possible, officials, employees
and volunteers report the suspected abuse to both the NJ Department
of Children and Families and law enforcement at the same time, which
is known as "dual reporting."
For ALL elected officials, appointed officials, supervisors,
department heads, full or part-time employees or volunteers of programs
conducted by the City of Linwood:
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•
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Report the suspected abuse to the New Jersey Department of Children
and Families. Please be prepared to include the following information
to the extent the information has been told to you.
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a.
Who: The
child and parent/caregiver's name, age and address and the name of
the alleged perpetrator and that person's relationship to the child.
b.
What: Type
and frequency of alleged abuse/neglect, current or previous injuries
to the child and what caused you to become concerned.
c.
When: When
the alleged abuse/neglect occurred and when you learned of it.
d.
Where: Where
the incident occurred, where the child is now and whether the alleged
perpetrator has access to the child.
e.
How: How
urgent the need is for intervention and whether there is a likelihood
of imminent danger for the child.
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•
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Call the Hotline established by the NJ Department of Children
and Families @ 1-877-652-2873. It is not the supervisor's role to
make a decision on whether a case should be reported. All cases shall
be reported.
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For Law Enforcement Officers:
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•
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Immediately report any suspected or alleged cases of abuse or
neglect to the New Jersey Department of Children and Families and
to the County Prosecutor.
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The following guidelines have been established under New
Jersey law, for those reporting suspected or alleged cases of abuse
or neglect. The City of Linwood encourages all officials, employees,
and volunteers in programs operated by the City of Linwood or affiliated
programs or activities to report suspected cases of abuse with the
following in mind.
i.
Any person who, in good faith, makes a report of child
abuse or neglect or testifies in a child abuse hearing resulting from
such a report is immune from any criminal or civil liability as a
result of such action. Calls can be placed to the hotline anonymously.
ii.
However, any person who knowingly fails to report suspected
abuse or neglect according to the law or to comply with the provisions
of the law is a disorderly person.
iii.
When a report indicates that a child may be at risk,
an investigator from the Division of Child Protection and Permanency
(formerly Youth and Family Services) will promptly investigate the
allegations of child abuse and neglect within 24 hours of receipt
of the report.
All officials, employees/counselors, and volunteers shall sign
and date an acknowledgement form that confirms they have received
and reviewed the Policy Addressing the Protection and Safe Treatment
of Minors, issued to them by the City of Linwood. The same process
shall be used for any revised policy issued in the future.
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Indicators of Child Abuse/Neglect
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The New Jersey Department of Children and Families issued the
following guidelines to assist in recognizing the indicators of child
abuse/neglect.
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Different types of abuse and neglect have different physical
and behavioral indicators.
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a.
Physical Abuse
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Physical Indicators
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Unexplained bruises and welts:
• On face, lips, mouth
• On torso, back, buttocks, thighs
• In various stages of healing
• Cluster, forming regular patterns
• Reflecting shape of article used to inflict (electric
cord, belt buckle)
• On several different surface areas
• Regularly appear after absence, weekend or vacation
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Unexplained burns:
• Cigar, cigarette burns, especially on soles, palms, back
or buttocks
• Immersion burns (sock-like, glove-like doughnut shaped
on buttocks or genitalia)
• Patterned like electric burner, iron, etc.
• Rope burns on arms, legs, neck or torso
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Unexplained fractures:
• To skull, nose, facial structure
• In various stages of healing
• Multiple or spiral fractures
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Unexplained laceration or abrasions:
• To mouth, lips, gums, eyes
• To external genitalia
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Behavioral Indicators
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Wary of adult contacts
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Apprehensive when other children cry
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Behavioral extremes:
• Aggressiveness
• Withdrawal
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Frightened of parents
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Afraid to go home
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Reports injury by parents
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b.
Physical Neglect
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Physical Indicators
|
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Consistent hunger, poor hygiene, inappropriate dress
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Consistent lack of supervision, especially in dangerous activities
or long periods
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Constant fatigue or listlessness
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Unattended physical problems or medical needs
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Abandonment
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Behavioral Indicators
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Begging, stealing food
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Extended stays at school (early arrival and late departure)
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Constantly falling asleep in class
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Alcohol or drug abuse
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Delinquency (e.g., thefts)
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States there is no caregiver
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c.
Sexual Abuse
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Physical Indicators
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Difficulty in walking or sitting
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Torn, stained or bloody underclothing
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Pain or itching in genital area
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Bruises or bleeding in external genitalia, vaginal or anal areas
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Venereal disease, especially in preteens
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Pregnancy
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Behavioral Indicators
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Unwilling to change for gym or participate in PE
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Withdrawn, fantasy or infantile behavior
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Bizarre, sophisticated or unusual sexual behavior or knowledge
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Poor peer relationships
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Delinquent or run away
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Reports sexual assault by caregiver
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d.
Emotional Maltreatment
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Physical Indicators
|
|---|
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Habit disorders (sucking, biting, rocking, etc.)
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Conduct disorders (antisocial, destructive, etc.)
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Neurotic traits (sleep disorders, speech disorders, inhibition
of play)
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|
Behavioral Indicators
|
|---|
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Behavior extremes:
• Compliant, passive
• Aggressive, demanding
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Overly adoptive behavior:
• Inappropriately adult
• Inappropriately infant
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Grooming Behavior
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Grooming is when someone builds a relationship, trust and emotional
connection with a child or young person so they can manipulate, exploit
and abuse them.
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|
Here are some common characteristics of someone attempting to
"groom" a child:
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|
•
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Molesters often refer to their intended victims by pet names
and use gifts to foster exclusivity and build a relationship while
starting the practice of keeping secrets.
| |
|
•
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The molester might begin to spend time with the victim outside
of the regular program or schedule, contacting parents to become involved
in a child's life in some capacity, like babysitting. For this reason,
many parents are shocked after abuse comes to light simply because
the abuser seemed so good — too good to be true, in fact.
| |
|
•
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Inevitably, the favoritism is not enough to keep the victim,
and the abuser resorts to threats—threats that play off of a
child's guilt over the sexual contact.
| |
|
•
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During the grooming process and abuse itself, victims often
begin to show tell-tale signs, including:
| |
|
o
|
Sexual behaviors or strong sexual language that is too adult
for their age.
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o
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Many children feel at fault after the abuse and begin to suffer
guilt and depression, even resorting to self-harm.
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|
o
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Also look for cuts and scratches or other self-inflicted injuries.
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