How Police Deal with Investigating Child Abuse
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Posted: 9:06 PM Feb 1, 2010
How Police Deal with Investigating Child Abuse
The horrors of child abuse can be difficult to listen to when you hear news reports. But when it's your job to get the facts and basically save a child, it can take a toll.
Reporter: Amanda Barren
Email Address: amanda.barren@wsaz.com
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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- The horrors of child abuse can be difficult to listen to when you hear news reports.

But when it's your job to get the facts and basically save a child, it can take a toll.

WSAZ.com's Amanda Barren explains how State Police prepare themselves and deal with cases of true despair.

When it comes to child abuse, the images are gut-wrenching and the numbers are growing. It also means seeing the world in a different way for the folks on the front lines.

In West Virginia, lawmakers are being asked to fund more police officers to deal with crimes against children.

So far, members of the West Virginia State Police have had a 100 percent conviction rate when it comes to these situations.

State Police First Lt. D.L. Frye says communication with officers is key, as well as some time away from the graphic nature of investigating child abuse.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Reader on May 20, 2011 at 02:21 AM

Amen to that. People love to complain & talk about work instead of using that time & energy to take action. I've been involved with CPS for the last year over issues w/my Grandson. They were on it - tracked his Mother State to State until they got her. They have forced her into Counseling while they made me his placement. They saved my Grandson's life. Overworked & underpaid; but true to their cause.
Posted by: joanie on Feb 3, 2010 at 05:29 PM

The problem in a lot of these cases isn't a lack of investigating by the police or the CPS workers assigned to the cases it is the politics of the family court judges and prosecutors. I have seen many cases where good parents lose their children for having a dirty house or even bad clothes, but yet a child who is being abused can remain in the abusive home because the judge and prosecutor have a personal friendship with the parents. It is disgusting to think that the privilege of raising your children has less to do with your ability to care for and protect them, and more to do with how much money you have and who you know.
Posted by: Kim on Feb 3, 2010 at 05:22 PM

If everyone knew what it felt like to hold an abused child while they took their last breath they would probably have the anger I do. Many of these deaths could have been prevented with the proper report to CPS and them following up!!!
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