I’ve Been Falsely Accused of Child Abuse, What Should I Do?
False accusations of child abuse are more common than what you might think. We see a lot of cases from parents who are involved in difficult custody battles. Just because these accusations are common, it doesn’t take away from the seriousness of them. Being falsely accused of child abuse is a heart-stopping, horrifying event and is one that should be dealt with professionally.WHAT IS CHILD ABUSE
Child abuse is often defined as, “when a parent or caregiver, whether through action or failing to act, causes injury, death, emotional harm or risk of serious harm to a child.”You may wonder, is spanking your child considered child abuse?
In California, parents are allowed to use “reasonable and age-appropriate spanking to the buttocks.” It also means that there is no serious physical injury to the child. Spanking borders on child abuse when:- It causes injury and not just discomfort
- The force used is unjustified
- It’s used for something other than correcting dangerous or inappropriate behaviors.
What You Should Do First
If you were accused of child abuse, it’s likely you have already been visited by a case investigator. It is best to let them into your house, remain calm, and explain the situation. If you have not already contacted a lawyer to help with your case, find one now. It will be beneficial to find a criminal defense lawyer who has dealt with false accusations of child abuse. A well-practiced attorney will know how to navigate your case to protect you.What Else Is Going To Happen?
You’re likely worried about what else is going to
happen. Depending on the nature of the allegation, you may find yourself being interviewed by the police. Again, you need to have an attorney before speaking with the police. Your lawyer will help you know how to deal with law enforcement. You have to realize that police are trained to interrogate, so you’ll want legal advice before talking to the police.
You may have to go to court. You are entitled to an attorney so discuss with your attorney how you are going to approach this situation. Experienced lawyers will have dealt with similar cases in the courtrooms you will be in, so they will know how to help you best with this child abuse accusation.
Important Things to Remember
There are a few important things to remember if you have been falsely accused of child abuse. It can be helpful to contact neighbors and friends who would be able to testify on your behalf in court. Remember you need to protect yourself and deny the false accusations that have been made. It can be helpful to keep a journal throughout your case. Take detailed notes after you speak with anyone so you can recall what was said. Another tip is although your attorney will know all the laws pertaining to child abuse, it can be helpful to research and educate yourself about false allegations of child abuse. Lastly, don’t give up. This may be one of the hardest things you’ve ever had to handle, but overcoming and proving innocent of these false accusations will be worth the fight. If you live in the San Diego area, Bradley Corbett has experience with false accusations of child abuse cases. Contact him today for a free consultation. He is ready to fight aggressively to get your charges dismissed.
Bradley Corbett
Bradley Corbett is a criminal defense attorney in San Diego. He graduated from Brigham Young University in Provo Utah in 2004. Later he enrolled at Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego where he participated in a prestigious internship program with the Los Angeles County Public Defender. Since then he has handled over 2,000 cases.