Baltimore Child Abuse Lawyer
Child abuse is an act that exploits, harms, or otherwise involves mistreating children. A child abuse conviction could prove to be very serious since it could lead to jail time. One may also have to register as a sex offender, given the context of the crime. A potential conviction could also prevent someone from possible employment opportunities and community activities.
If you wish to learn more about this charge or wish to hire an attorney, contact an experienced and determined attorney. A Baltimore child abuse lawyer may be able to give you the legal counsel you deserve.
Reporting Child Abuse
Child abuse can be reported in a number of ways. It can be reported by a child, if they are old enough to actually report it themselves. It can also be reported by:
- Another adult
- The police
- A school
- A daycare provider
- A teacher
In some instances, a child may go with social services. Social services may begin an investigation and interview the child, interview witnesses, and try to see what happens. Ultimately, if they proceed any further, or if there is some legitimacy to the allegation, a person could be criminally charged.
Consequences Associated with Child Abuse
Child abuse is considered to be a felony. The most immediate concern could be going to jail after an arrest while waiting for the charges to be resolved. Even though a person can be found not guilty or exonerated of a charge, they might sit in jail for weeks or even months if they cannot procure their release or hire a Baltimore child abuse attorney to help them seek a potential release from jail. The longevity of a potential jail sentence is also dependent upon the severity of the abuse.
Civil Ramifications from a Conviction
Custody is one of the primary issues that may arise when someone is convicted, if they are a parent or legal guardian. They could potentially lose custody of their children, in addition to every other consequence if they are convicted of child abuse. On the other hand, civil cases typically do not affect criminal cases because the only question in a criminal case is if a criminal act took place. Civil cases typically have no place in a criminal arena.
If you wish to learn more about the civil ramifications from a potential conviction, contact a Baltimore child abuse lawyer for more information.
Benefits of Contacting a Baltimore Child Abuse Attorney
An experienced attorney who is very familiar with these sorts of cases will most likely know the specific ways in which the charges should be addressed, may inform an individual about the potential defenses available, may help procure somebody’s release, and could guide them through the process. Unlike other charges such as drug possession, trespassing, or disorderly conduct, child abuse is considered to be an incendiary charge that could inflame the passions of juries, judges, and prosecutors and could cause a much harsher and more aggressive prosecution.
If you believe you could benefit from hiring a skilled attorney, contact a Baltimore child abuse lawyer today.