Why is it, that the police and CPS don't believe children are abused without "Physical evidence"?

Question

It's the same thing with battered women, whose partners are too smart to leave marks. As a child victim of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, and coming from an abusive father myself, I find it hard to imagine why the USA justice system, or any justice system, feels like women and children who come from abusive relationships/homes who don't have any physical marks or bruises deserve less attention, then women and children with brusies, broken bones, hospital visits, etc.

Answer 1

When a child is actually being abuse, you want the police and CPS to stop it.  But what about the cases where the child is not being abused?  Anyone can report a case of abuse just because a parent is dong something they disagree with, e.g. spanking.

Answer 2

It's not that they deserve less attention.  It's because there have been several false claims of abuse.  Basically they are trying to weed out the false claims from the real ones and in the process they aren't getting all of them.

However, in most cases they do take emotional and mental/verbal abuse seriously.  To some extent.  Physical abuse is seen as a much greater threat, and if there is proof of it then it is taken more seriously.

Usually abuse does leave some sort of mark.  I have been abused and have the scars to prove it.  I don't know of any cases where abuse was suspected but no marks were present.  I don't think it's not possible, don't get me wrong, just never heard of it happening.

Answer 3

I would imagine they want to avoid the child calling CPS on their parents for grounding them.   I agree, it's not a fool-proof system- but our legal system needs to protect the accuser and the accused until a judge/jury decides who is the guilty party.

Answer 4

It's not that they deserve less attention, it just much harder to prove the abuse. Sad, but true.

Answer 5

I have many friends in CPS and often times they do believe it but they need that not to get sued.  If you remove and the parent takes you to court a good lawyer can argue there is no evidence so why did you remove.   It happens and has happended. People are sue happy.   Also they need to prove to a judge that it is real.  It is all about covering your back.  If i am the worker that removes a child i need to be abel to back it up with evidence if not i can loose my job, license and or go to jail.