The first chapter considers current issues in child abuse, such as definitions, legal responses, detection and diagnosis, the evidence value of child interviews, legal consequences of child abuse allegations, child witnesses, and legal changes related to child abuse. Subsequent chapters discuss the legal framework of child abuse and different forms of child abuse (physical-nonaccidental abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, and emotional or psychological abuse). Other chapters examine the identification, investigation, and initiation of child abuse proceedings; the importance of interagency cooperation in investigating child abuse and assuring child protection; criminal proceedings involving adult offenders, juvenile offenders, and juveniles; and civil proceedings (juvenile courts, discharge of care proceedings, appeals, and alternatives to care proceedings). Consideration is also given to evidence in criminal and civil proceedings, child interviews, sentencing guidelines, judicial review, child abuse inquiry reports, and child abuse provisions in the law. A table of cases and a table of statutes are included. 4 figures