Child abuse is generally the mistreatment of a child by a parent or caregiver—through actions or inactions—that causes injury, death, or emotional harm to the child—or that places the child at serious risk of such injury, death, or emotional harm. Mistreatment that constitutes child abuse may take many forms, including neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, failure to supervise, and exploitation. Child abuse laws vary from state to state and are usually located in a state’s family code and criminal or penal code.

In Oklahoma, child abuse is addressed under both the state's family code and criminal statutes. According to Oklahoma law, child abuse includes any willful or malicious harm or threatened harm to a child's health, safety, or welfare by a person responsible for the child's health, safety, or welfare, including non-accidental physical or mental injury, sexual abuse, or neglect. Oklahoma statutes define neglect as the failure to provide adequate nurture or affection, food, clothing, shelter, sanitation, hygiene, or appropriate education, medical, dental, or behavioral health care, supervision, or appropriate caretakers, or special care made necessary by the physical or mental condition of the child. The law also covers abandonment and parental substance abuse that negatively affects the child. Child abuse in Oklahoma is a serious offense and can result in criminal charges ranging from misdemeanors to felonies, depending on the severity of the abuse. The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) is the agency responsible for investigating reports of child abuse and neglect and taking appropriate action, which may include removing the child from the home if necessary for their safety.