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Article: Sexual Abuse
- Article from:
- West's Encyclopedia of American Law
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SEXUAL ABUSE
Illegal sex acts performed against a minor by a parent, guardian, relative, or acquaintance.
Sexual abuse
is a general term for any type of sexual activity inflicted on a child by someone with whom the child is acquainted. It is considered an especially heinous crime because the abuser occupies a position of trust. Until the 1970s the prevalence of sexual abuse was seriously underestimated. Growing awareness of the problem led legislatures to enact reporting requirements, which mandate that any professional person (doctor, nurse, teacher, social worker) who knows or has reason to believe that a child is being abused report this information to the local welfare agency or ...