The punishment for child abuse will vary a great deal from State to State. Many times the severity of the punishment will be dependent upon the age of the child. Abused children can vary a great deal in age, from infants to teenagers. Some states take a victim’s age into account when they are considering the appropriate punishment for abuse.
The severity of the abuse may also affect the punishment that the abuser will receive. Many states will treat severe child abuse as a felony.