Child Abuse can harm victims from cradle to the grave
Point of View in the Sun Telegram
10-9-03

The children portrayed in The Sun's series, "Teens Who Kill," by Chris T. Nguyen and Felisa Cardona (Dec. 8-14, 2002), all suffered child abuse.

Few understand how really horrible child abuse is. Babies aren't born serial killers.

These victims of abuse drag through life with a wound that will not heal.

With more than a quarter century of experience working with the mentally ill at Patton State Hospital, I can vouch for what I say. The devastation caused by child abuse is an important factor in the mental illness of patients.

Imagine the things on a bad day, you might say or do, that you later would regret. Now, multiply that pain by tens, hundreds or thousands.

That's how they feel, day by day.

The numbers of abused children are growing at an alarming rate.

According to The Sun's series, "Reports of child abuse rose nationally rose 41 percent between 1988 and 1997," and "The number of kids booked increased 67 percent from 1997 to 2001."

To quote The Sun, "Perhaps the saddest fact about child abuse is that it shows no sign of abating. It continues to grow, almost by the day."

We're losing the fight against child abuse, and it's expensive.

"There would be 'huge savings,' if the county could reduce the inmate population by just 5 percent." Most of the inmates in jails and prisons have been abused. "The history of youth violence is that 'they tend to stay within the criminal justice system' for two or three decades."

Abuse victims "are more likely to commit crimes, abuse their won children, have psychological problems, abuse alcohol and drugs and be unemployed." I have adult clients who still are dealing with the abuse that occurred early in their lives.

Instead of striding purposefully toward our destiny, the human race drags a broken and useless leg and must support a terrible wound.

The problem is beyond the clergy, police and professionals. They want us to be involved.

In response to The Sun's series, one professional said, "This problem goes beyond the church and what the churches are able to do. It's a mission for the whole community to embrace."

Another commented, "It's not just a police role. It's a society role."

As the saying goes, "Evil prevails, because good men do nothing."

This is where the social workers, the police and the clergy have reached a dead end. To get beyond this barrier requires public relations. In-depth, comprehensive stories about abuse need to be kept in the news.

We need to go to state hospitals, prisons, juvenile facilities, group homes and county-funded treatment centers. A roving symposium would he a good way to hear from the victims of abuse.

I hope to go to Sacramento and work on an initiative.

Please contact me at my Web site, www.childabusemuststop.org.

All quotations above are from The Sun's series, "Teens Who Kill."

Steve Park of Redlands works with the severely mentally ill as a licensed psychiatric technician. Point of View is an occasional column of commentary by local citizens. Send material to Point of View, The Sun, 399 N. D St., San Bernardino, Ca. 92401. Or fax it to (909) 885-8741.