Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA, 1974)

1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read the statute (42 U.S.C. § 5101 et seq.)

2) Why It Was Done
CAPTA was enacted to create a federal framework for preventing, identifying, and responding to child abuse and neglect, and to support state child protective services with federal funding.

3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
Before CAPTA, child abuse was addressed only under scattered state laws, with inconsistent definitions and protections. CAPTA established minimum federal standards and tied compliance to funding.