Statistical Information

Substantiated reports of child abuse and student abuse are recorded in the Statewide central register. The Child Protective Services Law defines the types of injuries as follows:

• Physical injury is an injury that 'causes a child severe pain or significantly impairs a child's physical functioning, either temporarily or permanently.'
• Mental injury is a 'psychological condition, as diagnosed by a physician or licensed psychologist, including the refusal of appropriate treatment that:
              1. renders a child chronically and severely  anxious,  agitated, depressed, socially withdrawn, psychotic or in reasonable fear that his or her life or safety is threatened; or
              2. seriously interferes with a child's ability to accomplish age-appropriate developmental tasks."
• Sexual abuse includes engaging a child in sexually explicit conduct, including the photographing, videotaping, computer depicting or filming, or any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct of children.
• Physical neglect constitutes prolonged or repeated lack of supervision or the failure to provide the essentials of life, including adequate medical care.
• Imminent risk is a situation where there is a likelihood of serious physical injury or sexual abuse.