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Long-term consequences of Child Abuse on the Society

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Long-term Consequences of Child Abuse Child abuse is the physical, emotional, or sexual mistreatment of a child by his or her parent or guardian. Many do not realize how many children are abused in their homes every day. According to a publication titled Child Maltreatment 2008, children are more likely to be the victim of child abuse and neglect than they are to be the victim of anything else (Speak-Up-Be-Safe). In fact, more than one million children in the United States alone are a victim of child abuse (Wisdom, Hiller-Sturmhöfel, p. 52). One in seven adults between the ages of 18 and 54 in the U. S. report that they were sexually abused, physically abused, and/or were the victim of emotional abuse in their childhood …show more content…

This was found true even when twins were compared, one of whom was maltreated, while the other was not (Picker, Les). Of those convicted of first degree murder, two thirds of them reported that they had a history of severe physical abuse during their childhood (Garrett, Jared.) Many cases of juvenile delinquents also say that they have been extremely physically punished and assaulted numerous times in their home (Garrett, Jared). Also, most prostitutes report that as a child, they had been both physically and sexually abused (Garrett, Jared). The fact that so many of these delinquents have history of child abuse really shows how much child abuse impacts the lives of these individuals. These people may believe that what they are doing and what they have done is okay when it actually isn’t. They were abused as a child and were not taught the differences between right and wrong from their parent(s) and/or guardian(s) who abused them. With increased criminal activity from child abuse, the law is doing their part to try to control it. Increased criminal activity means that there is a greater need for laws to be enforced (Garrett, Jared). Police officers are pushed more and overworked. Prisons get more crammed and become overcrowded. This is something that is not good for society as a whole. Instead of our community growing safer, it is in fact, having the number of criminals

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