NCJ Number
48968
Date Published
1975
Length
4 pages
Annotation
THIS PAPER, BASED ON CHILD ABUSE STUDIES AND POLICE EXPERIENCE IN LANCASHIRE, ENGLAND REFLECTS WILLINGNESS OF THE POLICE FORCE TO GET INVOLVED IN CHILD ABUSE CALLS AND THE CONSEQUENCES WHEN THE POLICE ARE CALLED TOO LATE.
Abstract
THE APPEARANCE OF CHILD ABUSE IS SEEN AS THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG; A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS, SOCIAL WORKERS, AND OTHERS SIMILARLY AND DEVOTEDLY DEALING WITH CHILD ABUSE TO CALL THE POLICE INTO THESE CASES EARLY, AND NOT AS A LAST RESORT, HAS BEEN DEVELOPING. THIS PAPER DISCUSSES THE PROBLEMS FACING POLICE WHEN THEY ARE CALLED IN AT A POINT TOO FAR ALONG IN CHILD ABUSE CASES. IT IS OFTEN TOO LATE FOR REAL HELP BECAUSE THE CHILD HAS SUFFERED DEATH OR SERIOUS PERMANENT INJURIES RESULTING FROM THE BATTERING PARENT'S PROGRESSIVELY HARSHER ABUSE. WHILE A POLICEMAN'S DUTY IS THE PROTECTION OF LIFE AND THE PREVENTION OF CRIME, THERE SHOULD NOT BE A CASE WHERE AN ABUSED CHILD WHOSE CONDITION HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE NOTICE OF ANY MEDICAL-SOCIAL AGENCY IS RETURNED TO THE SAME DOMESTIC ENVIRONMENT FOR FURTHER PUNISHMENT. THE FOCUS OF A UNITED STATES LAW IS DISCUSSED REGARDING THE REPORTING OF CASES OF CHILD ABUSE. A COMPARISON IS MADE BETWEEN ITS MANDATORY NATURE AND THE VOLUNTARY NATURE OF THE ENGLISH REPORTING PRACTICES. THE NECESSITY FOR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN AGENCIES IS STRESSED BECAUSE UNILATERAL POLICE ACTION OFTEN HAS TO BE TAKEN SIMPLY BECAUSE OTHER AGENCIES INVOLVED ARE NOT PREPARED TO COOPERATE. LANCASHIRE'S POLICE FORCE HAS A JUVENILE LIAISON DEPARTMENT WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COLLATING AND ASSESSING INFORMATION ON ALL CASES BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE POLICE. THIS INFORMATION IS BEING USED TO BUILD UP A COMPREHENSIVE INDEX TO BE USED BY THE POLICE AS WELL AS OTHERS. A FINAL DISCUSSION EMPHASIZES THE NEED FOR EDUCATION OF THE YOUNGER POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARE OFTEN THE FIRST TO BE CALLED INTO A TURBULENT DOMESTIC SITUATION. (RBS)