Child Victimization in Minnesota

Abuse

Child abuse is the physical, emotional, or sexual mistreatment or neglect of a child.

I do not think spanking is child abuse if it is done in a responsible manner. If the adult is sending a valuable disciplinary message that the child is aware of, without causing bodily harm, I think it is appropriate. If the adult is spanking excessively and the child doesn't know why, or if the adult is injuring or harming the child, I believe it is not appropriate. As long as adults spank in a respectful manner, I think it should be allowed as a form of punishment or discipline. 

I believe public punishment is acceptable depending on the circumstances. For instance, if a child is acting out in a grocery store and will not obey his/her parents, I think it is acceptable for the child to receive a small pop on the bottom as punishment. However, beyond that, I think any yelling or actions taken that will make a scene, need to be done in private so that others do not feel uncomfortable witnessing the events. However, if the parent is using acceptable forms of punishment, this should not be an issue regardless of the setting. An unacceptable form of punishment in public would be repetitive spanking or yelling. 

Victimization

Statutes in Minnesota:

Subd. 2.Use of minor.

 

It is unlawful for a person to promote, employ, use or permit a minor to engage in or assist others to engage minors in posing or modeling alone or with others in any sexual performance or pornographic work if the person knows or has reason to know that the conduct intended is a sexual performance or a pornographic work.

Any person who violates this subdivision is guilty of a felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than ten years or to payment of a fine of not more than $20,000 for the first offense and $40,000 for a second or subsequent offense, or both.

Subd. 3.Operation or ownership of business.

 

A person who owns or operates a business in which a pornographic work, as defined in this section, is disseminated to an adult or a minor or is reproduced, and who knows the content and character of the pornographic work disseminated or reproduced, is guilty of a felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than ten years, or to payment of a fine of not more than $20,000 for the first offense and $40,000 for a second or subsequent offense, or both.

Subd. 4.Dissemination.

 

A person who, knowing or with reason to know its content and character, disseminates for profit to an adult or a minor a pornographic work, as defined in this section, is guilty of a felony and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than ten years, or to payment of a fine of not more than $20,000 for the first offense and $40,000 for a second or subsequent offense, or both.

Sexting in Minnesota:

Sexting is the act of sending sexually explicit messages or photographs, primarily between mobile phones.

Minnesota does not have a separate statute for sexting crimes. In the State of Minnesota anyone (including a minor) who creates, distributes or possesses an image of minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct may be prosecuted under the State’s child pornography laws and, if convicted, will generally receive jail time and need to register as a sex offender.

I do not believe sexting should be punished. I do not feel there is an appropriate way to monitor or distinguish between what is acceptable and not acceptable when sending pictures to others. That is a personal choice and people should learn to deal with the consequences of their actions if the picture is published. 

Victimization in Minnesota

Mona and Russell Hauer, both 44, of North Mankato, Minn., were charged with child endangerment and malicious punishment of a child for allegedly starving the 8-year-old boy. The Hauers were charged with four other felonies. The Minnesota couple allegedly starved their 8-year-old adopted son so severely that he weighed only 35 pounds when he was taken to a hospital in a cruel case of child abuse. The couple allegedly had the adopted boy on a liquid diet and punished him by refusing to provide him with food. When the boy was examined, doctors found that his bones were protruding, his brain atrophied and he had a slow heartbeat. The Hauers have three other children who were allowed to eat regular food. Prosecutors said the children were homeschooled and rarely saw doctors. The adopted 8-year-old is being treated for malnutrition and an eating disorder. The three other children, who are the biological kids of the Hauers, also claimed to be abused. The children claimed their parents hit them with 2-by-4s or a broom handled, but they said their adopted brother was always punished the worst. The adopted 8-year-old is being treated for malnutrition and an eating disorder, the news outlet reported. 

http://www.ibtimes.com/adopted-son-starved-minnesota-couple-faces-child-abuse-charges-son-weighs-only-35-pounds-860878#

Child Victimization in the Media

Gardens of the Night is a film is a film about a teenage boy and girl, after being abducted as children, and suffering years of abuse, they find themselves living on the street.

"Concrete Angel" is a song by Martina Mcbride, centering around a main theme of child abuse and in a different context, bullying. The narrator tells a story about 7-year-old Angela Carter. Near the end, her mother beats Angela to death. Some people, such as Angela's teacher, notice signs of abuse but attempt to ignore them.