Final Assessment

VictimologyVictimology Victimization at the

Beginning and End of Life: Child Abuse

 Child maltreatment not a concern until 1875  Case of 9-year-old Mary Ellen, abused child,

led to creation of the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children

 Other institutions created to address maltreated children ◦ Houses of Refuge—provided care for maltreated

children ◦ First Juvenile Court implemented 1899 in Cook

County, IL

Child Maltreatment

 1940s and 1950s—second wave of attention to child maltreatment ◦ Pediatric radiologists—X-rays provided empirical

evidence of child abuse  1960s ◦ AMA presentations on battered child syndrome

 1970s ◦ Previous developments created widespread concern

about child maltreatment ◦ Led to first federal legislation addressing child abuse

Child Maltreatment

 Abuse—causing harm to a child ◦ Physical ◦ Emotional ◦ Sexual

 Neglect—failure to meet child’s basic needs ◦ Physical ◦ Medical ◦ Educational ◦ Emotional

What is Child Maltreatment?

 Difficult to know true extent of child maltreatment in the United States

 Child maltreatment hard to detect ◦ Children may be too young to verbalize what is

happening to them ◦ Caregivers unlikely to report abuse/neglect if they

are perpetrators ◦ Others may not be aware of maltreatment

Measurement and Extent of Child Maltreatment

 National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) ◦ Data on child abuse/neglect reported to state child

protective service (CPS) agencies  National Incidence Study (NIS) ◦ Includes info on cases investigated by CPS and cases

identified by professionals in community

Measurement and Extent of Child Maltreatment

 NCANDS—2014 ◦ 3.2 million referrals dealing with alleged

maltreatment of 6.6 million children ◦ 17.8% resulted in substantiated disposition ◦ Professional made report in over half the cases

 NIS-4 (2005–2006 data) ◦ Over 1.25 million children experienced

maltreatment resulting in demonstrable harm ◦ 1 in 25 children experienced maltreatment ◦ three fourths of cases involved neglect

 In 2014, estimated 1,546 children died as a result of child maltreatment

Measurement and Extent of Child Maltreatment

 Age ◦ Victims from birth to 1 year had highest rate of

victimization ◦ About 70% of children who die from maltreatment under

age 3  Gender ◦ Males and females equally likely to be victims ◦ Females more likely victims of child sexual abuse ◦ Males at greater risk of dying from maltreatment

 Race ◦ Whites most likely to be reported ◦ African Americans and Hispanics disproportionately

represented

Who Are Victims of Child Maltreatment?

 Biological parents most common perpetrators ◦ Over 90% of victims in 2014 victimized by parent(s) ◦ Mothers most likely perpetrators except for CSA

 Other relatives make up second largest group  Unmarried partners of parents make up third

largest group  Most perpetrators are White and between

ages of 18 and 44  In cases resulting in death, about 4/5

perpetrated by parent(s)

Who Perpetrates Child Maltreatment?

 Nature of being a child may place children at risk

 Children more vulnerable—smaller, less able to protect themselves

 Children who are “fussy” or have difficult temperaments are more prone to abuse

Risk Factors for Child Maltreatment

 Poverty ◦ Living in poverty increases risk of maltreatment

 Family structure ◦ Children living with two biological parents at lowest

risk ◦ Children living with single parent and cohabitating

partner at greatest risk ◦ Boyfriends of single mothers responsible for

disproportionate share of abuse  Size of family ◦ Children living in households with 4+ children at

greater risk of maltreatment than those living in 2- child household

Familial Risk Factors

 Abusive behavior is learned behavior  Young parents a risk factor  Parental substance use—1/3 to 2/3 of child

maltreatment cases involve substance use  Parental mental illness—depression

particularly linked to child maltreatment  Child characteristics creating increased risk ◦ Disability ◦ Behavioral or medical problems

Individual Risk Factors

 Shaken baby syndrome ◦ Causes brain hemorrhages, skull fractures, and so on

 Abuse/neglect may cause impairments to brain development ◦ Can affect cognitive, language, and academic

abilities  Neglect may lead to developmental delays

because basic developmental needs not met

Physical, Cognitive, and Developmental

Effects

 Victims commonly experience guilt, shame, fear, anger, and may blame themselves

 Abuse may be associated with panic disorder, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and so on

 Different types of maltreatment associated with different types of outcomes ◦ Physical abuse—internalizing emotions ◦ Neglect—lack of trust, socially withdrawn ◦ Sexual abuse—difficulty developing, maintaining

healthy sexual relationships

Psychological Effects

 Higher likelihood of involvement in delinquent and criminal behavior

 Higher likelihood of alcohol and substance abuse

 Higher likelihood of problems in school and teen pregnancy

 Higher likelihood of risky sexual behaviors and STDs

 Higher likelihood of eating disorders, self- mutilating behaviors, and revictimization

Effect on Criminality and Other Behaviors

 Child maltreatment increases chances of living in poverty and being unemployed

 One study of child maltreatment found that adults who had been maltreated as children had: ◦ 2 times the risk of being unemployed ◦ 60% increase in risk of living in poverty in adulthood

Effect on Adult Poverty

 Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (1974)

 Mandatory reporting laws in every state  Safe haven laws ◦ Allow custodial parents in crisis to relinquish babies

anonymously to designated places ◦ Goal is to reduce infanticide and abandonment of

babies

Responses to Child Maltreatment—

Legislation

 CJS treats cases of suspected child abuse very seriously ◦ 94% conviction rate in cases where charges filed

 Guardian ad Litem (GAL) ◦ Provides assistance to child, represents child’s best

interests in court  Alternatives to traditional methods of

testifying ◦ Videotape, CCTV, and two-way mirror ◦ Judge may clear courtroom during testimony

Criminal Justice Response