Types of Child Neglect

January 31, 2025
Contact a South Jersey DCPP Lawyer at the Law Offices of Theodore J. Baker to Help You Protect Your Rights
Contact a South Jersey DCPP Lawyer at the Law Offices of Theodore J. Baker to Help You Protect Your Rights

Child neglect can take on many different forms. In addition to physical abuse, neglect can also be a form of mistreatment that could cause the Department of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) to take your child out of your home. If you have been contacted by DCPP about a potential case of child abuse, you need to contact an attorney immediately. You may need to fight for your rights as a parent to keep your child in your home or to get them back from foster care.

Here are some types of neglect that could be considered abuse and may cause the DCPP to act:

Deprivation of Needs

Children must be fed, sheltered, and provided with adequate clothing. Parents have a legal obligation to meet these needs on a regular basis. Denying a child food or drink, not giving them the proper clothing they need, or leaving them out in the elements can be considered neglect.

Medical Neglect

As a parent, it is essential that you get your child the medical care and treatment that they need, both to remain healthy and thrive. You would have an obligation to secure your child’s medical help when they need it, both in terms of wellness and to treat a specific illness or injury. There may be some gray areas involved when you have made an initial attempt to seek medical care, and it has been denied, although you should continue to push for the appropriate and necessary treatment.

Supervisory Neglect

You must supervise your child and keep them from putting themselves in harm’s way. For example, a small child could be playing in front of the house unsupervised, and they could end up in the street in the path of oncoming traffic. There could be weapons in the home to which the child may have access, and the parent does not adequately supervise them to keep the child away. Even one instance of supervisory neglect, if it is serious enough, could be grounds for removal of the child from the home.

Environmental Neglect

Above all, a child will need to be placed in a safe and secure environment. For example, the home would need to be reasonably clean. If a child is in a filthy home that can cause illness, it can be grounds for removal. Cockroaches and excessive pet feces are examples of conditions that can endanger a child. If the DCPP shows up at a home and finds a hazardous environment, they could initiate removal proceedings.

Education Neglect

New Jersey law makes it illegal for parents to fail to ensure that a child receives the education that they need. Children cannot miss more than a certain number of days of school each year. If a child is truant and not attending school, it can be considered neglect and abuse. The child must not only be registered for school but also attend on a regular basis.

DCPP may act if they find that there is substantial abuse or neglect of the child. As a parent, you must meet your minimum basic obligation to provide the child with what they need to thrive. If neglect is reported to the DCPP, they may launch an investigation that could result in the removal of a child from your home. Neglect is a serious matter, and you need to be prepared to defend yourself or make changes as demanded by the DCPP. You should never try to deal with the state social workers on your own because of the potential consequences involved. If you learn that you are subject to an investigation, you will need immediate legal help.

Contact a South Jersey DCPP Lawyer at the Law Offices of Theodore J. Baker to Help You Protect Your Rights

A South Jersey DCPP lawyer at the Law Offices of Theodore J. Baker can help you defend yourself in any investigation. In some cases, working with the DCPP is a collaborative process, and we can assist you with that. Speak with a DCPP lawyer by calling us today at 856-210-9776 or contact us online to schedule an initial consultation. Our office is in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and we serve clients in Haddonfield, Marlton, Medford, Moorestown, Mount Laurel, Voorhees, and South Jersey.

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