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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
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    2

    Default Can You Be Convicted of Emotional or Psychological Abuse

    My question involves child abuse or neglect in the State of: NC

    I am curious if there has ever been a conviction for child abuse without physical, and sexual abuse involved. The reason I am asking is there is a child who is in danger from a stepfather who constantly degrades, and threatens him which makes the child scared and depressed. Far as I know, he hasn't laid his hands on the child.
    There is a court case filed by the mother coming up pertaining an incident where the stepfather threatened to punch the child in the face. One thing I am concerned with (as anyone would be who are humane) is that the judicial system might ignore it and do nothing about the stepfather's behavior. Also, the mother suffers from Battered Women Syndrome and want to drop the charges against him.
    I'm not asking "do you think they will dismiss the case?", or "what will be the sentencing?". I would like to know if there has ever been a successful case where the state actually has taken action for emotional child abuse.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
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    Somewhere near Canada
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    35,894

    Default Re: Emotional/Psychological/Verbal,menal Abuse

    It's very difficult to prove emotional abuse.

    However, there are cases where the child has been removed from the parent's care if such abuse can be proven. This is where medical and psychological reports come in, and this is where hard evidence is absolutely essential.

    I'm curious though - what court case would this be? What is the mother asserting? What is she trying to do? Is this criminal or civil?

    And yes, I have to ask...who are you in the situation?

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    9,096

    Default Re: Emotional/Psychological/Verbal,menal Abuse

    I cannot comment specifically on cases in NC, but, yes, there have been cases of emotional battering successfully convicted.

    Having said that, they are more rare than physical abuse cases due to the difficult time in establishing whether or not the verbal abuse occurred and what the damage to the victim were.

    This is definitely a case of he said/she said. Further, what qualified mental health professional has certified the abuse's impact upon the victim?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Posts
    2

    Default Re: Emotional/Psychological/Verbal,menal Abuse

    Quote Quoting Dogmatique
    View Post
    It's very difficult to prove emotional abuse.

    However, there are cases where the child has been removed from the parent's care if such abuse can be proven. This is where medical and psychological reports come in, and this is where hard evidence is absolutely essential.

    I'm curious though - what court case would this be? What is the mother asserting? What is she trying to do? Is this criminal or civil?

    And yes, I have to ask...who are you in the situation?
    Friend of the mother whom she no longer considered me as a friend. Typical thing a batterer will do to make sure no one communicates with the spouse.

    Quote Quoting cyjeff
    View Post
    I cannot comment specifically on cases in NC, but, yes, there have been cases of emotional battering successfully convicted.

    Having said that, they are more rare than physical abuse cases due to the difficult time in establishing whether or not the verbal abuse occurred and what the damage to the victim were.

    This is definitely a case of he said/she said. Further, what qualified mental health professional has certified the abuse's impact upon the victim?
    I don't think there is a qualified mental health professional making sure the child is ok and such. Not really sure since no one has communicated with the family.

    There are facts and a lot of calls to 911 in the past for domestic violence in the house. I'm very concerned with the stepchild since he is the one who takes majority of the mental abuse from the stepfather (Classic Cinderella Effect).
    What about witnesses? Will they be considered hearsay since there is no recorded evidence and such? I'm just hoping the courts will do something about the situation.

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