Defending You Against Accusations Or Charges Of Abuse And Neglect

A finding of abuse, dependency or neglect in a juvenile court may have a devastating effect upon a parent’s right to custody of his or her children. If you are accused of abuse or neglect or are facing formal charges, you should not attempt to handle this situation alone.

Do not consider a plea to such a case without first obtaining the advice of an experienced juvenile court attorney. John Shryock Co. L.P.A. has that experience. Founding attorney John Shryock has more than 40 years of experience handling family law and other legal matters, and will work to protect your rights and relationship with your children.

What To Know About Abuse And Neglect

• What is abuse? In Ohio, when an act is purposely committed that brings harm to a child (an individual under the age of 18), it may be considered abuse.
• What is neglect? While abuse is an act that is intentional, neglect has occurred when harm has come to a child as the result of inaction on the part of a parent or another adult.

Whether the resulting injuries are physical (including broken bones, bruises, head injuries, cuts, injuries from sexual abuse or assault and more), emotional (such as anxiety, depression or even post-traumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) or developmental (to the point where a child’s academic progression or maturation has been limited), or nothing even actually happened, your rights as a parent may be in jeopardy.

The Office of Families and Children (OFC) at the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services will thoroughly investigate any accusations or reports that they get. Regardless of the validity of the claim, they must investigate to ensure that the child is safe.

If any of the claims are substantiated, the child may be removed from the home and placed in temporary care while the parent, caregiver or other individual’s culpability is determined. While criminal charges may be filed in very serious cases, many parents are facing time away from their children and the suspension of their parental rights.

Time Is Of The Essence

Do not wait to talk to a lawyer about any abuse or neglect charges you may be facing. Contact us online or call our firm at (440) 373-7587 before your parental rights are impaired by a plea in juvenile court.