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Child Abuse
Child Abuse continues to be
a huge problem in our society.
There
were an estimated 826,000
victims
of child maltreatment across
the
nation in 1999. The rate of victimization
was 11.8 per 1,000 children.
An
estimated 1,100 children died of
abuse and neglect in 1999.
Of
child maltreatment victims,
482,384
children (58.4%) suffered
neglect,
175,938 children (21.3%)
were
victims of physical abuse, and
93,338
(11.3%) were sexually
abused.
Girls
and boys were maltreated at
similar
rates with the exception of sexual
abuse.
Girls were sexually abused
at
the rate of 1.6 per 1,000 compared
to
0.4 per 1,000 for boys.33
Almost
9/10 of all victims of child
maltreatment
were maltreated by at
least
one parent. Females were the
perpetrator
in 3/5 of cases
(61.8%).
Recognizing Child Abuse
In recent years the public's increased awareness
and reports of suspected child abuse have put pressure on law
enforcement to improve their investigations of such cases. This
was underscored in late 1987 when a New York City toll collector
observed a small girl covered with bruises in the rear of a car.
The collector radioed the New York State Police, who stopped the
car. The child's foster father, an attorney, explained to police
that the bruises were accidental, and he was released. A week
later, the child was dead from a beating.
Law enforcement personnel frequently must
determine whether a child's accident or illness was caused by a
parent or caretaker. However, it is often difficult even for
medical personnel to discriminate between injuries and illnesses
that are accidental and those that are not. The following
information can help law enforcement personnel to determine if
it is likely that abuse has occurred.
Could This Be Child Abuse?
Investigators must determine
whether the explanation for an injury is believable. Police
should begin their investigation by asking the caretaker for an
explanation of the child's bruises or injuries. This is best
done by asking the question: How did the accident happen?
All bruises must be investigated. If bruises
are found on two or more planes of a child's body, investigators
should be even more suspicious. For example, a child has bruises
on his buttocks and stomach. The caretaker's explanation is
that the child fell backward in the living
room of the family home. This might explain the bruises on the
buttocks, but not the stomach bruises. If a discrepancy exists
between the reported cause of an injury and the injuries seen,
law enforcement personnel should investigate further. They
should also keep in mind the following points:
* All other children in the home should be
examined for possible signs of child abuse.
* Victims of physical abuse often have been
intimidated and will usually support the abuser's version of how
their injuries occurred to avoid further injury. They also
feel that the abuse was just punishment because they were bad.
* A physical examination of the child in
suspected cases of maltreatment must be done and the data
recorded precisely.
* Laboratory data should be obtained to
support or refute the evidence of abuse.
* If the reported history of an injury or
injuries changes during the course of an investigation, or if
there is conflict between two adult caretakers as to the cause
of injury, the likelihood of child maltreatment increases.
* The demeanor of the child's parents or
caretakers is sometimes revealing. For example, the mother's
assessment of her pregnancy, labor, and delivery will often
provide an insight into her attitude about her child as well as
give an indication of whether there is something about the child
that is influencing her behavior.
* Investigators should ask questions in an
unobtrusive manner; for example:
-- Was this a planned pregnancy?
-- Did you want the baby?
-- Do you like the baby?
-- How did the accident happen?
-- What were you doing just before the accident?
-- Who was at home at the time of the accident?
-- What do you feed the baby? How often? Who feeds the baby?
* Information about a child's birth and his or
her neonatal and medical history are critical elements in
investigations. Hospital records can confirm or eliminate the
existence of birth injuries.
* Any child may be abused, and child abuse
occurs in all levels of society.
However, there are some factors that increase
a child's risk of abuse. These include:
- Premature birth or low birth weight.
- Being identified as "unusual" or
perceived as "different" in terms of physical
appearance or temperament.
- Having a variety of diseases or congenital
abnormalities.
- Being physically, emotionally, or
developmentally disabled (e.g., mentally retarded or
learning disabled).
- Having a high level of motor activity,
being fussy or irritable, or exhibiting behavior that is
different from the parent's expectations.
- Living in poverty or with families who are
unemployed.
- Living environments with substance abuse,
high crime, and familial or community violence.
Information provided by CASA.
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