New York City Child Abuse Lawyer
If you or someone you care about has been falsely accused of child abuse, you should contact a New York City child abuse lawyer immediately. Child mistreatment covers a wide range of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, but other acts, such as neglect or exploitation can also be categorized as abusive.
Not all child abuse allegations are true, but when a person attempts to defend themselves in court without the aid of an experienced domestic violence attorney, they are placing themselves at a distinct disadvantage. Often, individuals who suspect a child is being neglected are wrong, but their accusations have a lasting impact on the life of the person they accuse. Accusations can destroy the reputation of a person, and follow them throughout their life.
Motivation for Making False Claims
Contrary to mainstream thought, not all child mistreatment allegations are true. Children are extremely susceptible to coercion, and often, adults with ulterior motives will exploit this susceptibility. Even without coaching from an adult, children can make statements that can lead others to assume they were mistreated, even when they are not.
Adults often encourage children to make false allegations of abuse for the following purposes:
- To gain leverage in custody battles
- To punish another person or obtain vengeance
- To publicly humiliate another person
- Blackmail or extortion
- To get an adult removed from the home or their position of authority (ex: teacher, physician, etc.)
Impact of a Custody Battle
Custody battles can be tough and emotionally draining, but that is no reason to coach a child to make false allegations against one of their parents or guardians. To defend themselves against such malicious accusations of child abuse, individuals should hire a New York City defense attorney.
Dealing with Law Enforcement
When dealing with New York City law enforcement agents and investigators, it is imperative you avoid providing additional information without a local child abuse attorney present. When individuals are first charged, they often attempt to clear their good name by cooperating with police and providing large amounts of information.
Unfortunately, many law enforcement agents and investigators are not concerned with justice, and their only goal is to find enough evidence to get the accused person convicted. No matter how well-meaning investigators from state and local law enforcement agencies seem, accused persons must avoid speaking with them alone.
Consequences of a Child Abuse Conviction
When a person is convicted of child mistreatment, they will face a wide variety of penalties. These penalties can be harsh, and they often include jail time, post-release supervision, and legal fines. If a person is convicted in the middle of a custody battle, they could even lose custody of their child.
Even after release, individuals with a child abuse conviction on their record often face difficulty finding housing, getting a job, and reintegrating into the community. Simply put, the cost of a child abuse conviction is far too high to not hire a New York City domestic violence attorney.
Contact a New York City Child Abuse Attorney Today
Child mistreatment charges are serious and conviction can negatively impact your rights as a citizen. For this reason, it is extremely important to hire a New York City child abuse lawyer from our firm to protect you against such malicious charges. New York City child neglect attorneys will work tirelessly to clear your name and get your charges dismissed. Contact our law firm today to speak with an attorney.