Chapter 11 Crimes against Children Hess 11-1

Introduction Throughout history, children have endured physical violence During the industrial, urban and machine ages, exploitation of child labor was common Mistreating children was considered a family matter Crimes against children include maltreatment, sexual exploitation, trafficking and abduction Hess 11-2

TYPES OF MALTREATMENT Maltreatment means to treat roughly or abuse Neglect Physical abuse Emotional abuse Sexual abuse Hess 11-3 Maltreatment of Children: Neglect and Abuse

MALTREATMENT STATISTICS Birth to 1 year had highest rate of victimization Victimization was split between the sexes More than 75 percent of victims suffered neglect More than 15 percent of victims suffered physical abuse Hess 11-4 Extent of the Problem

CHILD FATALITIES IN 2009 Estimated 1,770 children died 2.34 deaths per 100,000 children Four-fifths were younger than 4 years old One-third attributed to neglect exclusively One-third caused by multiple maltreatment types Hess 11-5 Children as Victims of Violent Crime

RESULTING DAMAGE Serious and permanent damage  Physical, mental and emotional Future violent and criminal behavior Intergenerational transmission of violence Hess 11-6 Effects of Child Abuse and Neglect

INCREASED CHANCES Children younger than 4 years of age Special needs children History of child maltreatment in family Substance abuse Parental characteristics Concentrated neighborhood disadvantage Hess 11-7 Risk Factors for Child Maltreatment

OVERVIEW Typically child abuse and neglect laws have three components:  Criminal definitions and penalties  Mandate to report suspected cases  Civil process for removing the child from the abusive or neglectful environment Hess 11-8 Child Abuse and Neglect Laws

FEDERAL LEGISLATION Courts often determine punishment as reasonable STATE LAWS Every state has enacted child abuse and neglect laws States offer a bit more protection to children What is “reasonable” varies from state to state Hess 11-9 Child Abuse and Neglect Laws

CHILD WELFARE Child protective services (CPS) agencies Acts on behalf of a child Parents are unable or unwilling to do so Provides protective custody Formal investigation is required frequently Hess Case Processing

PROTECTING THE CHILD Possibility of present or continued danger exists Child must be removed into protective custody NEED TO INVOLVE OTHER AGENCIES Traditionally conducted separately Multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach Hess Challenges in Investigating Child Maltreatment Cases

DIFFICULTY IN INTERVIEWING CHILDREN Consider child’s age Ability to describe event Potential retaliation for “telling” CREDIBILITY CONCERNS Must protect the innocent and falsely accused Hess Challenges in Investigating Child Maltreatment Cases

REPORT SUBMISSIONS Most reports of child neglect or abuse are made by third parties  Teachers  Physicians  Neighbors  Siblings or parents Hess The Initial Report

INTERVIEWING ABUSED CHILDREN Requires special skills Obtain background information Direct Honest Understanding Professional Hess The Police Response

OBSERVATIONS Surroundings Home conditions Clothing Bruises or other body injuries Medical examination report Hess Evidence

INDICATORS Physical or behavioral or both Neglect Emotional abuse Physical abuse Sexual abuse Hess Evidence

PARENT AS SUSPECT Munchausen syndrome and Munchausen by proxy syndrome Osteogenesis imperfecta Sudden infant death syndrome Investigating child fatalities Hess The Suspect

SEX CRIMES BY OTHER CHILDREN Do not dismiss Investigate thoroughly THE NONPARENT SUSPECT Misoped Hebephile Pedophile or chicken hawk Hess 9-18 The Suspect

OVERVIEW No specific demographic for a child predator An expert in selecting and enticing young people Most rarely use force Involved in activities with easy access to children Situational and preferential Pedophilia is a sex offense in all states Hess The Pedophile

CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE RINGS Solo sex rings Transition sex rings Syndicated sex rings RITUALISTIC ABUSE BY SATANIC CULTS Certain cults involve sexual abuse of children Hess The Pedophile

VICTIMOLOGY Positive offender-victim bond OFFENDER REACTIONS Complete denial Minimizing the acts Justifying the acts and blaming the victims Claiming to be sick Hess The Pedophile

COMMERCE Pornography Child Protection Act (1984) Internet sex crimes against children Models to combat exploitation  Special task forces  Strike forces and law enforcement networks Continued Hess Commercial Sexual Exploitation

COMMERCE Federal agencies working against child pornography International initiatives Prostitution of juveniles Trafficking of children Commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) Hess Commercial Sexual Exploitation (Continued)

OVERVIEW Determining runaway or abduction is a challenge Parental abduction is most frequent Runaway children  Insecure and depressed  Unhappy and impulsive Abducted children  Often kidnapped Hess Missing Children: Runaway or Abducted?

AMBER ALERT PLAN Voluntary partnership between law enforcement and broadcasters Nationwide alert system for abducted children BEYOND AMBER ALERT AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Child Abduction Response Team (CART) Team HOPE Hess Missing Children: Runaway or Abducted?

PROVIDING TESTIMONY Give preference on the docket Some courts permit videotaping Limiting privileges for repeat examinations Some courts remove the accused from courtroom Courtroom preparation techniques Hess Children as Witnesses in Court

CHILD ABUSERS Any race, age or occupation Someone close or a complete stranger Online predators Children are unaware Children need adequate information Hess Preventing Crimes against Children

Summary Crimes against children include:  Maltreatment (neglect and abuse)  Sexual exploitation (pornography and prostitution)  Trafficking and abduction May be prevented by educating children about potential danger Keeping the channels of communication open Hess 11-28