The first section discusses general issues related to child abuse in the U.S., including its prevalence, types of child abuse and neglect, the role of professionals involved with child abuse and neglect, and the role of advocates and juvenile courts in serving children's interests. The legal response to child abuse is discussed in terms of the functions and jurisdictions of juvenile court, domestic relations court, criminal court, and civil court; the book also describes the relationship of different legal proceedings. Another section deals with issues pertaining to courtroom proceedings, specifically relating to juvenile witnesses, the rights of the accused versus protection of the victim, hearsay evidence, and expert witnesses. The final section discusses emerging issues in child abuse, e.g., drug-exposed infants, abused children who fight back, and the controversy over claims of recovered memory. 1 appendix and chapter references