This is a capstone project. I need an Introduction and Conclusion to the attached document . Topic is on Child Abuse : Healing and Justice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Victims of Child Abuse: Healing and Justice

Heather Hambleton

Criminal Justice Capstone

Criminal Justice Capstone Project Partial Draft Two

Capella University

February 4, 2017

 

 

Abstract

Child abuse can exhibit in many forms in a family setting such as neglecting the children by the parents or the tendency of the parents to engage in the abuse of drugs and alcoholism. Any actions that lead to the abuse of the rights of the children causes them mental torture and physical suffering. Children can suffer the abuse of sexual harassment, physical torture, and psychological torture. Therefore, every stakeholder should take an integral part in the control and elimination of child abuse for the purpose of ensuring healing and justice for the children whose rights have for a long time been abused. Among the various approaches appropriate to the prevention of the child abuse are the theoretical, scientific and the physical approaches (Newberger, 2013).

Integration of the Theory into the Policy

                Child abuse is not such complex to understand why it is important to be prevented among children. The clinical research has proven that child abuse causes both the short term and long term implications to the lives of the children. Detrimental injuries cause long-lasting physical injuries to the children. Child abuse can result in mental torture and death when in the extreme.  Other than the physical implications, the psychological effects that result from the child abuse cause reduced confidence and lowered self-esteem of the child.  The abused child will also grow with negativity on social interaction and shame because of the lowered self-esteem and denial of oneself. Other implications that are likely to result from child abuse are poor performance in school and other areas and possession of a negative attitude towards other people. Children who grow with their rights abused are likely to become adults who will equally abuse their children and others around them. Therefore, this habit might propagate and move to generations. Behavioral consequences are indicated by poor relations among the peers of the child abuse victims. For these reasons, it is critical to address the challenge of child abuse permanently (Newberger, 2013).

Integration of the Scientific Methods into the Policy to Solve the Identified Issue

                Various scientific approaches can be applied to address the issue of child abuse between different stakeholders. These include the psychoanalytic, environmental, labeling and cognitive development among others. According to the psychoanalytic approach, the unconscious conflicts and drives of the parents determine their abusive behavior (Galdston, 1973; Steele and Pollock, 2009). The approach cites that the causes of the child abuse on this basis are resultant from the psychological troubles of the parents to the abused child. To address child abuse resultant from this behavior, it is important to offer family therapy to the parents and create awareness among the parents on the important of raising their children in an environment that is free of torture or any form of abuse.

Similarly, the social; as well as the environmental stress are two factors that the environmental approach attributes to be the reasons for the child abuse. The fact that children might be undergoing stressful situations in their lives will cause them stress and torture. These includes poverty, violent society, inadequate housing, and unemployment among the parents. The factors within the context of the environment that overwhelm the family interferes with the ability of the parents to provide essential care to their children. Therefore, child abuse will result in such situations and because the rights and privileges that a child is entitled will not be met when the child needs them most. Environmental factors is a complex issue that would call for the contribution of the stakeholders from all directions right from the government in the provision of decent housing and ensure that employment is available for its citizens. Besides, it is important to ensure that education is available and affordable for all. Awareness should be created among the parents so that they play their roles by making sure that their children live in the right conditions (C. Newberger and Cook, 2013).

Labeling forms another basis to the child abuse concerning social inequalities. According to this approach, those who have the dominant power get services by defining as deviant a class of individuals who are socially marginal. The individual problems of these people become the proper concern for assisting the professionals. Empirical works supported by cases reported on the child abuse supports this perspective arguing that despite the occurrence of the domestic violence, at all the levels of income, the communities that live in lower socioeconomic standards will be labeled as abusive. This approach can provide a sound scientific basis for preventing the abuse of children and administration of justice (Paxton, 2016).

Integrating the Practical Methods into the Policy to Solve the Problem

                Various physical methods can be used in providing a solution to the problem of child abuse so that the resultant adversities can be avoided. For instance, one can choose to practically empower the families economically so that their financial can improve. In a financially stable family, the parents can provide for the children’s needs, thereby minimizing the possibility that they will suffer distress due to unmet needs. Besides, the parents can be trained and advised to adopt the policies that create a friendly environment at home that will create the best conditions for raising a child. The legislature should also participate actively in the prevention of corporal punishments among children so that the issue of child abuse become eliminated both at home and in schools. Every stakeholder should play their roles in the prevention of child abuse, making sure that those who abuse the rights of the children faces justices not to repeat their actions again.

A platform can be set where all the stakeholders can get a chance to practically participate in the provision of a solution to the issue of child abuse. In the setting, rules can be defined as well as the definition of the child abuse. Besides, it is important to ensure involvement of the criminal justice practitioners so that sound decisions are made pertaining the matters of children abuse (Marylyn, 2009). All the parties will be required to follow the stipulated rules, and any abuse should be subjected to punishments as agreed by the stakeholders. Lack of knowledge on an abuse should be treated as intentional or ignorance, and it should not be taken as a defense mechanism when a party abuses a child.

It is important that the involved criminal justice practitioner understands the ethnic values as well as the cultural beliefs of the community that the child comes from by conducting an in-depth investigation.  Besides, it will always be important to understand the matter clearly before making any decision or coming up with a conclusion. The decision made should align with cultural values that govern the child and the rights of children as well (Paxton, 2016). It is vital to ensure that all the relevant details are captured as well as the facts of knowledge for the right decision making on matters involving the provision of the right decision to solve the problem of child abuse and ensure that justice prevails.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

Cupoli, J. M., & Newberger, E. H. (2013). Optimism or pessimism for the victim of child abuse?. Pediatrics, 59(2), 311-314.

Galdston, R. (2009). Observations on children who have been physically abused and their parents. American Journal of Psychiatry, 122(4), 440-443.

Marylyn, T. (2009). Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect. Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect, 207.

Newberger, E. H., Newberger, C. M., & Hampton, R. L. (2013). Child abuse: The current theory base and future research needs. Journal of the American Academy of Child Psychiatry, 22(3), 262-268.

Paxton, K. (2016). What Can We Do About Child Abuse. The Attorney General of Texas, 52-54.paraphrasing skills. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 35(4), 387-395. Retrieved from              http://search.proquest.com/docview/213904438?accountid=27965