THIS INFORMATION PAMPHLET BY THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE EXAMINES CHILD ABUSE, DEFINING PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ABUSE, EMOTIONAL DEPRIVATION, NEGLECT, SEXUAL ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION, AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY. THERE IS SERIOUS UNDERREPORTING OF THE PROBLEM, PARTICULARLY ON THE ABUSE OF CHILDREN UNDER AGE 4, AND ON SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN WHICH IS MOST COMMON FOR AGES 9-12. THE NECESSITY OF THIRD PARTY REPORTING IS STRESSED. CLINICAL SIGNS AND OTHER SYMPTOMS OF PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL ABUSE OR DEPRIVATION ARE DESCRIBED TO ALERT THE THIRD PARTY ON WHAT TO LOOK FOR. CHILD ABUSE CASES HAVE SIMILAR CHARACTERSITICS. EITHER OR BOTH PARENTS CAN BE ABUSERS. THEY OFTEN HAVE HAD A DEFICIENT CHILDHOOD THEMSELVES, ARE WITHOUT ACCESS TO AN EXTENDED FAMILY, ARE ISOLATED SOCIALLY AND EMOTIONALLY, AND ARE RECIDIVISTS AND OFFENSE ESCALATORS. IDENTIFICATION OF ABUSED CHILDREN, REPORTING, AND INTERVENTION ARE CRUCIAL FOR PREVENTION OF CONTINUED ABUSE. ABUSE SUSPICIONS MUST BY LAW BE REPORTED BY MEDICAL PERSONNEL, SOCIAL WORKERS, RELIGIOUS PRACTITIONERS, TEACHERS, AND SCHOOL OFFICIALS. THE LOS ANGELES, CALIF., POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS A UNIQUE LAW ENFORCEMENT UNIT TO AID THE SEXUALLY EXPLOITED CHILD. IN DEALING WITH ABUSERS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE FOURTH AMENDMENT MUST BE MET. SAMPLE MEDICAL REPORTS FORMS, AND FORMS FOR SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT ARE INCLUDED, AS WELL AS PARTS OF TWO CALIFORNIA LAWS DEALING WITH CHILD ABUSE. (RFC)