What is Child Torture?
​
Child torture is a medical subcategory of child abuse including unique clinical features which require specific child assessment, diagnostic, and treatment approaches. [1]
​
​
Child Protection Professionals Must Identify Child Torture Cases
Child torture includes a combination of two or more of the cruel and inhuman treatments for protracted periods of time, such as:
-
intentionally starving the child,
-
binding or restraining the child,
-
repeatedly physically or sexually abusing the child,
-
exposing the child to extreme temperatures without adequate clothing,
-
locking the child in closets or other small spaces,
-
forcing the child to eat excrement, or have sexual contact with animals, or
-
forcing the child into stress positions, or other regimens intended to break the child's will
resulting in prolonged suffering permanent disfigurement/dysfunction, or death. [2]
2017 Report
2017 Report
2017 Report
2018 Report
state criminal code Failures
Report Card Preview
When a victim of child torture suffers severe mental trauma, but no serious physical injury as defined by statute, many states have a gap in criminal codes which allows perpetrators of child torture to sometimes receive lighter sentences than those given for stealing. [3]
2020 Report & Report Card
No Child Torture Statute or Many Loopholes in Statute
No Loopholes in the Criminal Code
​
