NCJ Number
43613
Journal
Victimology - An International Journal Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: SPECIAL ISSUE (SUMMER 1977) Pages: 294-306
Date Published
1977
Length
11 pages
Annotation
PRESENT FINDINGS OF INVESTIGATORS IN WEST GERMANY SHOW THAT CHILD ABUSE HAS A LONG HISTORY IN THE SCHOOLS AND FACTORIES, THAT ATTENTION HAS ONLY RECENTLY SHIFTED TO ABUSE IN THE HOME, AND THAT FEW GENERALITIES CAN BE MADE.
Abstract
SPECIAL PROTECTION AGAINST CHILD ABUSE WAS NOT FORMALLY ORGANIZED IN GERMANY UNTIL THE END OF THE 19TH CENTURY, ALTHOUGH SUCH BEHAVIOR COULD BE PUNISHED AS BODILY INJURY. IN THE 1890'S, MAIN EFFORTS WERE DIRECTED AT PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM ABUSIVE EMPLOYEES. IN 1899, THE PRUSSIAN MINISTER OF EDUCATION MADE AN APPEAL TO RESTRICT CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN SCHOOLS, WHICH IMPLIES THAT WIDESPREAD EXCESSES MUST HAVE EXISTED. CRIME STATISTICS REVEAL THAT FROM 1960 TO 1977, REPORTED CHILD ABUSE CASES HAVE INCREASED 300 PERCENT AND THAT UP TO 90 CHILDREN A YEAR ARE BATTERED TO DEATH IN ANY GIVEN YEAR BY PARENTS OR GUARDIANS IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY. THIS HAS GIVEN THE COUNTRY A BAD REPUTATION, BUT IT IS POSSIBLE THAT SIMILARLY HIGH RATES WOULD BE FOUND IN OTHER COUNTRIES IF REPORTING WERE COMPLETE. FOR COMPARISON, ABOUT 300,000 CHILDREN UNDER AGE 15 IN WEST GERMANY MEET WITH AN ACCIDENT EACH YEAR, OF WHICH 3300 ARE FATAL. STATISTICS RELATED TO CHILD ABUSE WERE PUBLISHED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 1969. EXCLUDING SEXUAL OFFENDERS, 1084 PERSONS WERE SENTENCED IN 1967 FOR OFFENSES AGAINST THE HEALTH AND LIFE OF CHILDREN; 100 OF THESE WERE GUILTY OF HOMICIDE. ON AN AVERAGE, 200-300 CONVICTIONS YEARLY ARE OBTAINED FOR CHILD ABUSE CASES IN THE STRICT SENSE OF THE WORD. BOYS AND GIRLS ARE BATTERED NEARLY EQUALLY. THERE IS DISPUTE AS TO THE AGE GROUP MOST FREQUENTLY BATTERED: INFANTS AND YOUNG CHILDREN COME TO THE ATTENTION OF MEDICAL AUTHORITIES, BUT OTHER STUDIES HAVE FOUND THE LARGEST NUMBER OF VICTIMS WERE AGED 6-14. ABUSE IS MOST FREQUENTLY PROSECUTED AMONG POORLY EDUCATED, LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC FAMILIES. THIS MAY BE DUE TO THE UNWILLINGNESS OF AUTHORITIES TO INTERVENE IN FAMILY MATTERS IN MIDDLE-CLASS SITUATIONS. GENERALLY, THE ABUSED CHILD IS SEEN AS A DISCIPLINE PROBLEM, IS UNWANTED, IS BORN INTO GREAT ECONOMIC NEED, IS BORN OF RAPE OR REMINDS THE MOTHER OF A FATHER SHE DETESTS, IS DEFORMED AND REGARDED AS A 'PERSONAL OFFENSE' BY THE PARENTS, OR IS ILLEGITIMATE OR THE CHILD OF A FORMER MARRIAGE. THE PERSONALITIES OF ABUSING PARENTS FALL INTO FEW DEFINITE PATTERNS. MORE RESEARCH IS NEEDED ON WAYS TO ALLEVIDATE SOCIAL TENSIONS LEADING TO CHILD ABUSE AND TO INCREASE JUVENILE PROTECTION.