FOUR BASIC CONVICTIONS ARE CURRENTLY HELD CONCERNING THE TREATMENT OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. FIRST, CHILDREN NEED TO BE PROTECTED. IF THE PARENTS FAIL TO PROTECT, THE GOVERNMENT MUST STEP IN. CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IS NOT WILLFUL, BUT STEMS FROM PARENTAL PROBLEMS. FINALLY, THROUGH PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING, PARENTS CAN BE REHABILITATED. TYPES OF CHILD NEGLECT INCLUDE LACK OF MAINTENANCE, CORRUPTING INFLUENCES, PSYCHOLOGICAL ABUSE, MEDICAL NEGLECT, EDUCATIONAL NEGLECT, PHYSICAL ABUSE, SEXUAL ABUSE, AND COMMUNITY NEGLECT. THE PHYSICALLY ABUSED CHILD REPRESENTS THE NUMERICALLY SMALLEST PROBLEM. PARENTS WHO NEGLECT OR ABUSE CHILDREN ARE DESCRIBED AS IMMATURE CHRONOLOGICALLY OR EMOTIONALLY, OF LOW INTELLIGENCE, AS HAVING PERSONALITY DEFECTS OR EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCES, OR REPEATING THEIR OWN NEGLECTED CHILDHOOD WITH THEIR CHILDREN. ERRONEOUS ASSUMPTIONS CONCERNING CHILD NEGLECT ARE THAT ALL NEGLECTED CHILDREN MUST BE REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES AND THAT ALL BATTERED CHILDREN'S PARENTS WERE BATTERED CHILDREN. THE SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1876. SOCIAL SERVICES WERE NOT INVOLVED IN THE FIELD UNTIL THE 1920'S, AND THE MEDICAL PROFESSION BECAME INVOLVED IN THE 1950'S. A DISTRICT ATTORNEY STATES THAT FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, DOCTORS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR NOT REPORTING ABUSE CASES. TO OVERCOME THIS NON-REPORTING, A PENALTY FOR NON-REPORTING SHOULD BE LEGISLATED, AND A PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN AIMED AT DOCTORS AND NURSES SHOULD BE INSTITUTED. WHERE THE MEDICAL EVIDENCE IS INCONSISTENT WITH PARENTAL EXPLANATIONS, THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE CHILD, WHO SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE HOME, AT LEAST TEMPORARILY, TO FIND A SOLUTION. THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY STATES THAT AN ABUSED CHILD WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY BE KILLED IF NOT REMOVED FROM HOME. RECOMMENDED INVESTIGATIVE TECHNIQUES INCLUDE A SPECIFIC MEDICAL EXAMINATION, A SEARCH FOR INCONSISTENCIES, AND A DETERMINATION OF WHO HAD ACCESS TO THE CHILD. THE ATTITUDE OF SPOUSES TOWARDS A CHILD BEATING SPOUSE OR AN INCESTUOUS SPOUSE IS ALMOST ALWAYS ONE OF TOLERANCE AND PROTECTION. A DILEMMA FOR PROSECUTORS IS WHETHER TO PRESERVE THE FAMILY OR PUNISH THE OFFENDER. FOR OTHER TAPES IN THIS SERIES, SEE NCJ-38832-38835, AND 38837...PO