In recent years the public's increased awareness and reports of suspected child abuse have put pressure on law enforcement to improve their investigations of such cases. This was underscored in late 1987 when a New York City toll collector observed a small girl covered with bruises in the rear of a car. The collector radioed the New York State Police, who stopped the car. The child's foster father, an attorney, explained to police that the bruises were accidental, and he was released. A week later, the child was dead from a beating.

Law enforcement personnel frequently must determine whether a child's accident or illness was caused by a parent or caretaker. However, it is often difficult even for medical personnel to discriminate between injuries and illnesses that are accidental and those that are not. The following information can help law enforcement personnel to determine if it is likely that abuse has occurred.