Who is described as a child victim in maltreatment contexts?

• A. One who has experienced or has been at risk of experiencing abuse or neglect
• B. A child who has experienced abuse
• C. A child who has witnessed a crime
• D. A child in state custody

Answer: (A)

In maltreatment contexts, a child victim includes someone who has either experienced abuse or neglect or is at risk of experiencing it. This broad view recognizes both actual harm and vulnerability that requires protection, which is why the option that mentions both having experienced or being at risk fits best. A child who has experienced abuse is a victim, but the definition also needed to cover those who are at risk, not just those who have already suffered. Merely witnessing a crime isn’t the same as being abused or neglected in this context, unless it reflects caregiver harm or neglect. Being in state custody doesn’t by itself define victimhood, though it can be related to prior maltreatment. So the broader phrasing correctly identifies who is considered a victim in these contexts.