Case History: Kevin Fell Off His Razor

1. In your opinion, should Child Protective Services (CPS) become involved in Kevin’s situation and should Kevin have been placed in foster care? What are some risk factors supporting Kevin being removed from the household?
2. Should Kevin’s mother receive any punishment for originally lying to doctors and allowing her boyfriend Sam to physically punish Kevin in such as manner? If you were a prosecutor what evidence would been needed to prosecute Kevin’s mother?
3. Based on the example, what type of punishment should Sam receive from the criminal justice system? Why?
4. Why would Kevin’s foster mother have such a different opinion of Kevin’s behavior compared to his birth mother? Do you believe Kevin’s behavior would change upon entering a foster home? Why or why not?
5. If you worked for Child Protective Services (CPS), would you permit Kevin to return home? Why or why not? 

Case History: Sashim’s Secret

1. How should teachers handle cases involving child sexual abuse? Did Sashim’s teacher take the necessary required steps to protect Sashim? What are some risk factors of identifying child sexual abuse?
2. What are some consequences of being sexually abused as a child? What were the consequences of child sexual abuse in Sashim’s case?
3. How should Child Protective Services (CPS) handle cases where a parent does not believe the child (victim)? What alternative intervention methods are used by law enforcement agencies and Child Protective Services (CPS) to prevent future sexual abuse?
4. What are several classic characteristics of child sexual abuse offenders? Do you believe Bhagwan displayed classic characteristics of child sexual abuse offenders?
5. What line of questioning can Child Protective Services (CPS) take to determine the truth in cases involving child sexual abuse? Do you believe Bhagwan would be found guilty of sexual assault in a court setting? Why or why not?
6. Why would Sashim’s mother still have legal custody over her? What alternative options could be taken to allow Sashim to die at home with her foster parents while avoiding recanting her story of sexual abuse? 

Case History: Will and Mark: “Where Are the Parents?”

1. What is child neglect? Which subtype of child neglect does the case display? How does poverty relate to child neglect?
2. What are some risk factors of child neglect? What is the relationship between child neglect and juvenile delinquency? What punishment if any, should Will and Mark receive for their actions? What are some long-term consequences of child neglect?
3. What are some characteristics of neglectful parents? Should Will and Mark’s parents receive any punishment? If so, what punishment should they receive?
4. What role should Child Protective Services (CPS) play in this case? Why? What intervention strategies could be utilized in Will and Mark’s case?  

Case History: Tough Love or Child Psychological Maltreatment

1. What is child psychological maltreatment? Is the Machnick family committing child psychological maltreatment of their son Grady? If so, how? Which subtype best describes the Machnick family’s actions?
2. How does child neglect differ from child psychological maltreatment? What are characteristics of child psychological maltreatment?
3. In your opinion, were the Machnick’s committing child abuse? If so, how? What are some long-term risk factors of child psychological maltreatment?
4. How can law enforcement officials or Child Protective Services (CPS) determine if child psychological maltreatment has occurred? What are some intervention methods used by government agencies to prevent child psychological maltreatment?
5. Why are child psychological maltreatment cases so difficult to prove in court and why were the Machnick’s ultimately acquitted of felony charges in court? What evidence do you believe is needed to obtain a guilty conviction for conspiring to abuse a child? 

Case History: Troy “Likes” Tonya

1. What are some risk factors of being sexually harassed? Is Tonya displaying classic risk factors associated with being sexually harassed?
2. What should the school district have done differently in Tonya’s case? How can school districts protect students from sexual harassment and dating violence? What intervention methods could the school system have utilized in this particular case?
3. What are some characteristics of sexual harassment offenders? What type of punishment should Troy receive for his actions against Tonya? Why?
4. In your opinion, should school districts include additional classes or information on sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking? Why or why not?
5. What are some long-term consequences of peer sexual harassment and sexual assault? What are some early signs that Troy is not “bullying” but rather committing sexual harassment against Tonya?

Case History: Shelby and Marcus: A Deadly Outcome

1. What are some common risk factors associated with intimate partner violence? What risk factors were present in Shelby’s case?
2. Define martial rape. Do you believe Shelby’s case involved martial rape? If so, why do you believe Shelby failed to report the attack to law enforcement?
3. What are some consequences of intimate partner violence? What physical and mental consequences could Shelby suffer after enduring intimate partner violence?
4. What are some safety planning measures, which individuals can take to avoid violence by an intimate partner? Why did Shelby not take any safety planning measures prior to the final incident?
5. Why was Shelby arrested and put on trial for second-degree murder? How do mandatory arrest laws impact investigations of intimate partner violence? If you were the defense attorney, how would you defend your client in court? Why do you believe Shelby was ultimately found guilty at trial by a jury of her peers?

Case History: Maria and Victor: “I Am Not a Batterer!”

1. What are some risk factors associated with intimate partner perpetrators? What risk factors did Victor display in this case?
2. What are some attitudes and beliefs, which support intimate partner violence? Did Victor display any attitudes and beliefs supportive of intimate partner violence? If so, which attitudes and beliefs did Victor display?
3. Explain restorative justice. Would alternative restorative justice options be appropriate in Victor’s case? Why or why not?
4. Why are many intimate partner perpetrators sentenced to batterer intervention program (BIP) and not jail? Do you believe batterer intervention program (BIP) work? Do you believe Victor will commit another act of violence after completing the batterer intervention program (BIP)? Why or why not?
5. Why do many intimate partner perpetrators fail to take responsibility for their actions? Do you believe the dangerousness assessment instrument would assist Maria in this case? What measures did Maria take to ensure her safety in the future?  

Case History: Julie’s Dilemma

1. Define intimate abuse of people with disabilities. Does Julie’s case involve intimate abuse of people with disabilities? Why or why not? Why do estimates of intimate abuse of people with disabilities vary so greatly in American society?
2. What are some risk factors of intimate abuse of people with disabilities? What risk factors did Julie display?
3. What are some consequences of intimate abuse of people with disabilities? What do you believe are some short-term and long-term consequences Julie faced in her relationship with Rick?
4. What are some intervention and prevention programs used to reduce the amount of intimate abuse of people with disabilities in American society? Which intervention or prevention program would be best suited to Julie’s case? Why?
    

Case History: Marjorie Becomes a Parent Again at Age 68

1. Define elder abuse. Does Marjorie’s case involve elder abuse? Why or why not? Why does society fail to recognize elder abuse such as in Marjorie’s case?
2. What are some risk factors associated with intimate abuse of the elderly? What risk factors did Marjorie display? Did Marjorie’s case display any warning signs of abuse or neglect?
3. What are some consequences of elder abuse? What do you believe are some short-term and long-term consequences Marjorie faced in her case?
4. What are some intervention and prevention strategies used to deter or limit elder abuse? Should Adult Protective Services (APS) become involved in Marjorie’s case? Why or why not?