CJ 333 Unit 7

Child abuse is RARELY one incident. It’s usually more then one incident by one or both parents. When one form present, usually other abuse exists in the home as well.

Mandatory Reporters Child daycare providers Foster care providers Mental health providers Medical personnel Social Services Legal, law enforcement Education personnel

Child daycare providers.6% Foster care providers.9% Mental health providers4.1% Medical personnel8.4% Social Services10.0% Legal, law enforcement15.8% Education personnel 16.5%

Battered Child Syndrome Coined in 1962 “Repeated mistreatment of beating of a child that results in physical & psychological injuries” No exact # but millions each yr worldwide 31,000 deaths by homicide in 2002 worldwide Millions more nonfatal abuse & neglect

In US alone, 3.6 million investigation for abuse during ¼ determined to be abused or neglected. Children under 1 are at highest risk of death due to abuse or neglect. Boys more likely then girls to die.

Types of Maltreatment 2006 Neglect Physical abuse Medical neglect Sexual abuse Psychological abuse Other Unknown

Neglect64.1% Physical abuse16.0% Medical neglect2.2% Sexual abuse8.8% Psychological abuse 6.6% Other15.1% Unknown 1.2%

4 primary categories Emotional or Psychological Abuse Neglect Physical Abuse Sexual Abuse

Neglect Deprivation of adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care of supervision Most common form of abuse More than 64% of maltreated children were neglected by their parents or other caregivers in Neglect usually present when other forms of abuse occurs.

The most frequent cause of death was neglect. Under 4 are most vulnerable to being killed by abuse or neglect More then ¾ of children that die due to child abuse and neglect were younger then 4. Many still go unreported.

Estimated that 50-60% of child deaths from abuse and/or neglect are not recorded as such.

Education neglect Emotional neglect Medical Physical

Ages of victims 2006 <124.4% % % % % %

Race/Ethnicity of Victims African American19.5% Am. Indian/Alaska16.5% Native Pacific Islander16.1% White10.8% Hispanic10.7% Asian2.5%

15.5 million American children (0-17) that live in dual-parent family witness family violence or abuse. That’s 30% of children living in US. Repercussions?????

Child Victims and the Courts Treated differently from adults –Close the courtroom during child’s testimony –Hand drawn pictures ok victim impact state. –Allow leading questions to be asked –Use of anatomical dolls –2 way closed circuit tv testimony

Child custody cases May consider domestic violence as a factor Child’s rights over parental rights Deny custody & visitation to spouse & child batterers > ½ states allow sexual assault & stalking by a parent to be considered as a factor Did batterer participate in an education program

Military Family violence is a serious problem Contributing factors? –Deployments –Reunifications –Constant relocations Stress % behavioral problems with kids Child abuse by female parent left behind tripled when spouse deployed to combat

What more do we need to do in the US to combat this problem? –Military? –Children? –Generational patterns?