Each of these five sections is then divided into four levels of severity:

2) Moderately Severe

a) Knowledge resulting in temporary pain but no actual injury, but appears to be harsh or inappropriate and has the potential for injury.

b) Cruel or inappropriate treatment of a child such as:

• deliberate withholding of food or water for one day or more;
• deliberate feeding of minimal amounts of or nutritionally inadequate food for several days;
• deliberate locking out of home with no alternative place to stay, or as a result of locking out is at risk of harm such as having to ask strangers for help;
• child confined to room for extensive periods of time, or in a dark or cramped enclosure for any period of time;
• harnessing, tying, binding.

c) Verbal threats of harm or abuse even if no actual abuse has occurred. Also included would be implied threats of harm such as “I get so mad I don’t know what I might be capable of doing…” made by persons who appear to the informant to be capable of following through; e.g., persons with mental health problems or in crisis or appear overwhelmed.