New Jersey § 9:6-1

§ 9:6-1.

Abuse of a child shall consist in any of the following acts: (a) disposing of the

custody of a child contrary to law; (b) employing or permitting a child to be employed

in any vocation or employment injurious to its health or dangerous to its life or

limb, or contrary to the laws of this State; (c) employing or permitting a child

to be employed in any occupation, employment or vocation dangerous to the morals of

such child; (d) the habitual use by the parent or by a person having the custody

and control of a child, in the hearing of such child, of profane, indecent or obscene

language; (e) the performing of any indecent, immoral or unlawful act or deed, in

the presence of a child, that may tend to debauch or endanger or degrade the morals

of the child; (f) permitting or allowing any other person to perform any indecent,

immoral or unlawful act in the presence of the child that may tend to debauch or endanger

the morals of such child; (g) using excessive physical restraint on the child under

circumstances which do not indicate that the child's behavior is harmful to himself,

others or property; or (h) in an institution as defined in section 1 of P.L.1974,

c. 119 ( C. 9:6-8.21 ), willfully isolating the child from ordinary social contact under circumstances

which indicate emotional or social deprivation. Abandonment of a child shall consist in any of the following acts by anyone having

the custody or control of the child: (a) willfully forsaking a child; (b) failing

to care for and keep the control and custody of a child so that the child shall be

exposed to physical or moral risk without proper and sufficient protection; (c) failing

to care for and keep the control and custody of a child so that the child shall be

liable to be supported and maintained at the expense of the public, or by child caring

societies or private persons not legally chargeable with its or their care, custody

and control. Cruelty to a child shall consist in any of the following acts: (a) inflicting unnecessarily

severe corporal punishment upon a child; (b) inflicting upon a child unnecessary

suffering or pain, either mental or physical; (c) habitually tormenting, vexing or

afflicting a child; (d) any willful act of omission or commission whereby unnecessary

pain and suffering, whether mental or physical, is caused or permitted to be inflicted

on a child; (e) or exposing a child to unnecessary hardship, fatigue or mental or

physical strains that may tend to injure the health or physical or moral well-being

of such child. Neglect of a child shall consist in any of the following acts, by anyone having the

custody or control of the child: (a) willfully failing to provide proper and sufficient

food, clothing, maintenance, regular school education as required by law, medical

attendance or surgical treatment, and a clean and proper home, or (b) failure to do

or permit to be done any act necessary for the child's physical or moral well-being. Neglect also means the continued inappropriate placement of a child in an institution,

as defined in section 1 of P.L.1974, c. 119 ( C. 9:6-8.21 ), with the knowledge that the placement has resulted and may continue to result in

harm to the child's mental or physical well-being.