Physical health, mental health, and learning ability are all compromised by child abuse and neglect. These problems, however, largely affect the individual, and can to varying degrees be ignored by an indifferent society. Let us focus on a problem that cannot-the problem of crime. Of course, most abused and neglected children do not become criminal perpetrators. Nevertheless, many of today's victims of child abuse and neglect will be tomorrow's perpetrators of crime.
Common sense explains why.
Imagine a puppy. Imagine that the puppy urinates on the floor. For this the puppy is beaten, thrown into a small pen, and physically and emotionally neglected. After months of such treatment, he is tossed onto the street to make his own way. Brutalized puppies may become vicious dogs.