Domestic abuse help

thespeedycicada · Sun Dec 02, 2007 8:38 pm

Well i don't think i should be asking this here and this may very well be deleted but i need to have some sort of answer.

There is a little kid next door and he doesn't have any friends but me so i let him come over and we play football and do all sorts of stuff and he has become attached to me.I always thought he acted weird as he always tries to stay over as long as he can and is extremely afraid of his parents but i thought nothing of it.But to day he asked if i could show him how to do some tricks on a trampoline so i took him out back and showed him some things then we heard a muffled voice which was his dad so he asked his dad what he said and got no answer he thought his dad didn't hear him and tried again no answer i checked to see if his dad was still outside and he was right there "okay i thought must not of been to important a minute later his dad asks him to come over and the kid all the suddenly was on the brink of tears and said "am i in trouble? please dent hurt me dad!" No son im not mad just come here" "okay" then i heard "no dad no please! ahhhh!!! no stop! help! no! Ahhhh!!" then his dad said'BE QUIET! WALK!!!" oh my god his dad was beating the living sh!t out of his nine year old son! i heard more screaming and ran inside i asked someone who knew him and apparently he gets beaten with shoes aswell.

he has weird cuts on him he wont talk about so i ask you guys what the hell should i do?

Hubb · Sun Dec 02, 2007 8:55 pm

Well, there is two things you can do. Ignore it, or make a call. You could call the Police Dept and something may or may not get done. They can only do so much.

The best thing to do is discuss your concerns with an adult and have them call the Department of Family and Children's Services, or DFACS. They are mandated to investigate every complaint and will do so.

I live in Georgia. Here, corporal punishment (or spanking) is legal, but I wouldn't think having strange cuts and being hit with a shoe would apply to that.

thespeedycicada · Sun Dec 02, 2007 9:07 pm

Yes i know i could call and when i asked my parents they said "But out they must just be from a differnt culture" and if they find out i filed a complaint im screwed.

explsvcookie257 · Sun Dec 02, 2007 9:10 pm

Maybe you could ask a teacher at school or a guidance counselor or tell another kids parents thats ur friend and lives close by and maybe they will call. well if i was you i would call anyway no matter what my parents said just for the boys sake so he doesn't get beaten anymore.

Check out my YouTube SpudGun Channel! · Sun Dec 02, 2007 9:16 pm

Before anyone start flaming you for posting this, i'm not going to delete this because of severity of the topic, but I do ask you to please read the <A HREF="http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/nsgrd-r ... tml">NSGRD rules</a> because this topic doesn't belong here but at Theopia.

Also you broke rule #4 of the <A HREF="http://www.spudfiles.com/forums/viewtop ... 8">posting etiquette</a> so please read that too.

Oh and on topic, I suggest you ring a kids-line, like in NZ we have one called whatsup, http://www.whatsup.co.nz/.

I'd imagine you'll have quite a few in America and you should know them, so ring them and they should give you decent advice even though you're not the one getting beaten.

paaiyan · Sun Dec 02, 2007 9:16 pm

I think you should definitely seek out an adult who is objective to the situation and discuss the matter with them. No matter what culture they may be from, there are laws in the US the they must abide by. There are usually organizations, perhaps DHS, through which you can file a complaint on the condition of anonymity, and then allow them to take care of the situation through the proper channels. I definitely think it's a problem that should be addressed from the way it sounds. Find the number for DHS and speak to one of their representatives, but don't give them names or other details until you know how the situation will be dealt with. Ask if you can remain anonymous to the parties involved.

thespeedycicada · Sun Dec 02, 2007 9:18 pm

teachers and guidance counselors will just call my parents and really aren't useful aside from helping with your grades a bit.

paaiyan · Sun Dec 02, 2007 9:19 pm

Guidance counselors are useless in my opinion. Try DHS, but don't release any details until you know how the situation will be handled.

EDIT: www.ndvh.org/

Hubb · Sun Dec 02, 2007 9:41 pm

Why not make an unanimous call? If you are afraid of getting in trouble with your parents, then they don't have to know.

thespeedycicada · Sun Dec 02, 2007 9:47 pm

Yes but im one of two people who sees this and my parents blame everything on me anyway im less worried about getting grounded or anything but they might make me apologize to that SOB for calling the cops on him and he is the kind of person you do not screw with he's like six foot two and muscular

paaiyan · Sun Dec 02, 2007 9:48 pm

Hubb, not all avenues allow for anonymity. But really, try DHS or the link I posted. The people at that link have a toll-free number that they say is available 24-7.

potatoflinger · Sun Dec 02, 2007 10:00 pm

That sounds really serious, you really need to do something about it. If you go to the same school as him (or if you have any siblings that do) you could try talking to his guidance counselor about the issue, otherwise, I would do exactly what paaiyan said to do . I would be more concerned about the well-being of this kid than getting grounded.

windshrike · Sun Dec 02, 2007 10:50 pm

Watch

Tell someone and soon, because he may well one day end up dead, especially if he has cuts on him, which may be self-inflicted.
This obviously isn't a situation where it is fueled by alcohol or drugs but DELIBERATE abuse and for little or no reason. If he dies, you will blame yourself, and it will be all the worse. Make the call.

thespeedycicada · Sun Dec 02, 2007 10:55 pm

I will talk to him tomorrow he fits one possibly two of the physical signs of abuse but several of the behavioral signs.I am not afraid of getting grounded just of the dad as i said not someone to piss off.Also my mom told me they are from some part of africa as they speak it sometimes should this alter what i do? as i am guessing child abuse isn't really seen as an issue there (just a different culture)

paaiyan · Sun Dec 02, 2007 10:58 pm

Different culture or not, there are laws in the US that people must abide by. If some culture requires human sacrifices on a weekly basis, does that make it ok for them to do it here? Nope. Slightly more heinous offense, but same principle. You said he doesn't want to go home, is afraid of his father at least, has unusual scratches. you've got to make the decision man. The world abounds with problems that could have been resolved if it weren't for everyone saying, someone else will fix it, I don't have to worry about it right now.