Definitions

PURPOSE: This rule establishes definitions pertaining to investigations and assessments conducted pursuant to Chapter 210, RSMo. (1) The Children’s Division shall use the definitions set forth below when conducting investigations and assessments pursuant to Chapter 210, RSMo. (A) “Emotional abuse” is any injury to a child’s psychological capacity or emotional stability demonstrated by an observable or substantial change or impairment in the child’s behavior, emotional response, or cognition, which may include, but is not limited to: anxiety, depression, withdrawal, or aggressive behavior; and which may be established by either lay or expert witnesses. (B) “Physical injury” includes any bruising, lacerations, hematomas, welts, permanent or temporary disfigurement; loss, or impairment of any bodily function or organ, which may be accompanied by physical pain, illness, or impairment of the child’s physical condition. (C) “Proper or necessary support” includes adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care, or other care and control necessary to provide for the child’s physical, mental, or emotional health or development. (D) “Sexual abuse” is any sexual or sexualized interaction with a child, except as otherwise provided in paragraph 2. below. 1. Sexual abuse shall include, but is not limited to: A. Any touching of the genitals, anus or buttocks of a child, or the breast of a female child, or any such touching through the clothing; any act involving the genitals of a child and the hand, mouth, tongue, or anus of another person; or any sexual act involving the penetration, however slight, of a child’s mouth, penis, female genitalia, or anus by any body part of another person, or by any instrument or object; B. Any conduct that would constitute a violation, regardless of arrest or conviction, of Chapter 566, RSMo if the victim is less than eighteen (18) years of age, section 567.050, RSMo if the victim is less than eighteen (18) years of age, sections 568.020, 568.060, 568.080, or 568.090, RSMo, sections 573.025, 573.035, 573.037, or 573.040, RSMo, or an attempt to commit any of the preceding crimes; C. Sexual exploitation of the child, which shall include: (I) Allowing, permitting, or encouraging a child to engage in prostitution, as defined by state law; or (II) Allowing, permitting, encouraging, or engaging in the obscene or pornographic photographing, filming, or depicting of a child as those acts are defined by state law. This includes the storage or transmission of any data depicting said obscene or pornographic acts, images, or recordings. 2. Any reasonable interaction with a child, including touching a child’s body for the purpose of providing the proper or necessary care or support of the child, shall not be considered sexual abuse. The touching of a child’s body, including a child’s genitals, buttocks, anus, or breasts for reasonable, medical, child rearing, or child care purposes shall not be considered sexual abuse. 3. The division shall not be required to prove that the alleged perpetrator received sexual gratification or that there was an exchange or promise of anything of value as a result of the act of sexual abuse to establish sexual abuse under Chapter 210 or 211, RSMo. 4. The use of force or coercion is not a necessary element for a finding of sexual abuse. 5. Sexual abuse may occur over or under the child’s clothes. 6. The division shall not be required to prove that the child suffered trauma or harm as a result of the act of sexual abuse. 7. A child cannot consent to a sexual or sexualized act or interaction with a person responsible for that child’s care, custody, and control. Authority: sections 207.020 and 210.145.20, RSMo Supp. 2014.* Original rule filed May 26, 2015, effective Nov. 30, 2015. *Original authority: 207.020, RSMo 1945, amended 1961, 1965, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1993, 2014 and 210.145, RSMo 1975, amended 1980, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1993, 1994, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2014.