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Police Ask Adults To Be More Alert To Signs Of Child Abuse And Neglect

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The Aurora Police Department has urged residents to be more aware of the signs of child abuse, and not to fear calling police to check out any suspicions.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention and Awareness Month, and Aurora Police Det. Kevin Jenkins said people should call police or the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services if they notice any signs a child is the victim of abuse or neglect.

"People need to just trust their instinct. If you see a young child and they have a bruise, or there's something obvious that is pretty much unexplainable, or the kid maybe gives an explanation that really doesn't make sense; that's kind of a clue that maybe there's something going on," he said

Det. Jen Hillgoth said some people think they'd be bothering police or child welfare officials by phoning in their suspicions, or don't want to be wrong.

"I can't stress enough. We will never be too busy to handle or look into any kind of suspected child maltreatment, abuse, neglect, sexual abuse," she said.

Detective Jenkins agreed, and encouraged relatives, friends, neighbors, teachers and others to "make a phone call" if they notice signs of child abuse or neglect.

"Don't be afraid," he said. "If you're wrong, you're wrong."

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Police pointed out physical signs of abuse or neglect can be obvious. It's other types of abuse or neglect that might have more subtle signs.

"You're going to look for some things like the behavior of the child. Has behavior of that child changed? Are they kind of withdrawn? Are they, you know, acting out a little bit more?" Hillgoth said.

Hillgoth said, no matter how frustrated parents might get with a child who won't stop crying, they should never shake their babies, because there's a potential for brain damage or death.

"It's okay to set the child down in a crib, or a playpen, and walk away. I want them to know to reach to their family and friends, and if they don't have that support system, I want them to know where they can go and who they can call," she said.

DCFS can be reached at 800-25-ABUSE.

Hillgoth also pointed out that parents who want to give up their newborns may do so without question within 30 days of the child's birth, as long as they hand the infant to someone in an official capacity in a police station, fire station, or hospital.

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