NCJ Number
47111
Date Published
1977
Length
91 pages
Annotation
APPROPRIATE LEGISLATIVE AND SERVICE DELIVERY MEASURES FOR THE PREVENTION, IDENTIFICATION, AND TREATMENT OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN CANADA ARE CONSIDERED.
Abstract
JURISDICTION WITH RESPECT TO CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT LIES WITH BOTH THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH MAY ENGAGE IN PROTECTIVE ACTIONS ON BEHALF OF CHILDREN, AND WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHICH THROUGH ITS CRIMINAL LAW PROVIDES REINFORCEMENT FOR PROVINCIAL LAWS. LIKEWISE, SERVICE DELIVERY IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PROVINCES, WHICH ACT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THROUGH COSTSHARING ARRANGEMENTS. EVIDENCE ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT INDICATES THAT THERE IS NO ACCURATE INCIDENCE FIGURE BECAUSE OF REPORTING DEFICIENCES. CAUSES OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT ARE MULTITUDINOUS, AND MUCH ABUSE APPEARS TO OCCUR WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF DISCIPLINARY PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT. IN GENERAL, THE CRIMINAL CODE OFFERS LITTLE AID IN FACILITATING PREVENTION OF TREATMENT IN CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, AND SERVICES TEND TO CONCENTRATE ON INTERVENTION SUBSEQUENT TO THE BREAKDOWN OF THE FAMILY UNIT. THERE IS A GREAT NEED FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION. CLARIFICATION OF REPORTING REQUIREMENTS AND INFORMATION ON SERVICE AVAILABILITY ARE OF PARTICULAR IMPORTANCE. WHILE MUCH HAS BEEN DONE IN THE AREA OF TREATMENT AND IDENTIFICATION, PREVENTION ACTIVITIES COULD HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE PROBLEM. ADDITIONAL ISSUES CONSIDERED INCLUDE: (1) PROVINCIAL MANDATORY REPORTING REQUIREMENTS; (2) THE ADVISABILITY OF ENACTING MANDATORY REPORTING AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL; (3) PROCEDURES AND PROBLEM AREAS IN PROVINCIAL REGISTRIES, AND THE ADVISEABILITY OF A FEDERAL REGISTRY; (4) CURRENT CRIMINAL REMEDIES FOR CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND THE DESIRABILITY OF PROVIDING FURTHER CRIMINAL SANCTIONS; (5) PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS; AND (6) THE NEED FOR MORE EXTENSIVE PREVENTIVE SERVICES. GREATER GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT TO PREVENTIVE AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES, AND TO COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES IS RECOMMENDED. INTERAGENCY COORDINATION AND COOPERATION IS ADVISED, AND RESEARCH INTO ALL ASPECTS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IS SUGGESTED. ALSO RECOMMENDED IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STATISTICAL DATA BASE AND A RESOURCE AND INFORMATION SERVICE. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT EVIDENCE OF A SPOUSE BE PERMITTED IN CRIMINAL CASES; THAT MANADATORY PROVINCIAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS ARE ADEQUATE; AND THAT CENTRAL PROVINCIAL REGISTRIES, RATHER THAN A FEDERAL REGISTRY, BE ESTABLISHED. THE NEED FOR PUBLIC AND PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION IN THE AREA OF CHILD AND ABUSE NEGLECT IS EMPHASIZED. OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS, BRIEFS, PROVINCIAL STATUTORY DEFINITIONS OF 'NEGLECTED CHILD', AND PROVINCIAL REPORTING PROVISIONS AND SPECIFIC CHILD ABUSE LEGISLATION ARE APPENDED. (JAP)