Child Abuse Definitions Arizona

Physical Abuse
Citation: Rev. Stat. §§ 8-201; 13-3623

Abuse means inflicting or allowing the infliction of physical injury, impairment of bodily function, or disfigurement.

The term abuse includes circumstances in which a child is permitted to enter or remain in any structure or vehicle in which volatile, toxic, or flammable chemicals are found or equipment is possessed by any person for the purpose of manufacturing a dangerous drug. A violation under this section does not require that a person have care or custody of the child.

Neglect
Citation: Rev. Stat. § 8-201

Neglect or neglected means the inability or unwillingness of a parent, guardian, or custodian of a child to provide that child with supervision, food, clothing, shelter, or medical care if that inability or unwillingness causes substantial risk of harm to the child's health or welfare.

Sexual Abuse
Citation: Rev. Stat. § 8-201

Abuse shall include:

• Inflicting or allowing sexual abuse
• Sexual conduct with a minor
• Sexual assault
• Molestation of a child
• Commercial sexual exploitation of a minor
• Sexual exploitation of a minor
• Incest
• Child prostitution

Emotional Abuse
Citation: Rev. Stat. § 8-201

Abuse means the infliction of or allowing another person to cause serious emotional damage to the child, as evidenced by severe anxiety, depression, withdrawal, or untoward aggressive behavior, and such emotional damage is diagnosed by a medical doctor or psychologist, and the damage has been caused by the acts or omissions of an individual having care, custody, and control of a child.

Abandonment
Citation: Rev. Stat. § 8-201

Abandoned means:

• The failure of the parent to provide reasonable support and to maintain regular contact with the child, including providing normal supervision
• That a parent has made only minimal efforts to support and communicate with the child

Failure to maintain a normal parental relationship with the child without just cause for a period of 6 months shall constitute prima facie evidence of abandonment.

Standards for Reporting
Citation: Rev. Stat. § 8-201

A report is required when a responsible person:

• Inflicts or allows another person to inflict injury on a child
• Is unable or unwilling to protect the child

Persons Responsible for the Child
Citation: Rev. Stat. § 8-201

Responsible persons include:

• The parent
• A person having care, custody, and control of a child

Exceptions
Citation: Rev. Stat. § 8-201

A dependent child does not include a child who, in good faith, is being furnished Christian Science treatment by a duly accredited practitioner.

A child is not considered neglected if a parent's inability to meet the needs of the child is due solely to the unavailability of reasonable services.

http://www.meritcd.com/childabuse/abuselaws.php?state=AZ