NCJ Number
117722
Date Published
1988
Length
34 pages
Annotation
Child abuse concerns of Pennsylvania's Department of Public Welfare during 1988 focused on child abuse reporting, the scope of child abuse, and child protective services.
Abstract
In 1988, 22,021 reports of suspected child abuse were received, an increase of 8.7 percent over 1987. Of 7,809 substantiated reports, 1,162 involved children who had been abused before. Forty children died from child abuse. The number of sexually abused girls totaled 3,034, while the number of sexually abused boys totaled 761. Of substantiated child abuse reports, 54.7 percent involved sexual abuse. About 7,500 children were removed from the setting in which alleged or actual abuse occurred. A total of 214 substantiated child abuse reports involved children in child care settings. About one-third of all reports were referred to law enforcement officials for possible criminal investigation and prosecution. More than two-thirds of all child abuse perpetrators had a parental relationship with the child. The State of Pennsylvania and counties spent $17.8 million in 1988 to implement the Child Protective Services Law. Provisions of this law are described, and recommendations to amend the law are offered. 12 tables, 8 figures.