Child abuse is generally the mistreatment of a child by a parent or caregiver—through actions or inactions—that causes injury, death, or emotional harm to the child—or that places the child at serious risk of such injury, death, or emotional harm. Mistreatment that constitutes child abuse may take many forms, including neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, failure to supervise, and exploitation. Child abuse laws vary from state to state and are usually located in a state’s family code and criminal or penal code.
In Ohio, child abuse is defined and regulated under both the Ohio Revised Code (ORC) and the state's family and criminal laws. Child abuse encompasses a range of behaviors that harm or pose a serious risk to a child's physical or mental well-being. This includes neglect (failure to provide for a child's basic needs), physical abuse (inflicting physical injury), sexual abuse (engaging a child in sexual acts), emotional abuse (causing psychological harm), lack of supervision, and exploitation. Ohio law mandates that certain professionals, such as teachers, healthcare workers, and social workers, are required to report suspected child abuse or neglect to the authorities. The state's child welfare agency, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS), is responsible for investigating reports of child abuse and taking appropriate action, which may include removing the child from the home if necessary. Criminal charges for child abuse can result in severe penalties, including imprisonment, fines, and a permanent record of the offense.
