POLICY AND PROGRAM IMPLICATIONS IN THE CHILD ABUSE/NEGLECT-JUVENILE DELINQUENCY CORRELATION

• NCJ Number: 45815
• Author(s): A A HAEUSER; J STENLUND; L DANIEL
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 26 pages
• Grant Number(s): 90-C-600
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health and Human Services; US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Corporate Author: University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: FOR PRESENTATION AT THE SYMPOSIUM ON CHILD ABUSE AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, JULY 22, 1977

Annotation

THE HIGH CORRELATION BETWEEN CHILD ABUSE/NEGLECT AND SUBSEQUENT JUVENILE DELINQUENCY (42 PERCENT) IS DISCUSSED, AND IMPLICATIONS FOR RELEVANT POLICIES AND PROGRAMS ARE ANALYZED.

Abstract

THE CORRELATION BETWEEN CHILD ABUSE/NEGLECT AND JUVENILE DELINQUENCY STRONGLY SUGGESTS THAT FAMILY DYSFUNCTION IS A MAJOR UNDERLYING FACTOR. FURTHER, RESEARCH CLEARLY INDICATES THAT FAMILY DISCORD AND PUNITIVENESS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR IN CHILDREN. THUS IT WOULD SEEM THAT CHILD ABUSE POLICIES AND PROGRAMS SHOULD BE AIMED AT REMEDIATING FAMILY DYSFUNCTION AND RELATED STRESSORS. THIS HAS NOT, HOWEVER, BEEN THE CASE, LARGELY DUE TO SOCIETAL AMBIVALENCE TOWARDS THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN ON THE ONE HAND AND THE NEED TO CONTROL THEM ON THE OTHER. THIS AMBIVALENCE IS EXEMPLIFIED IN THE PERMISIBLE USE OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENTS IN THE SCHOOLS AND MANDATED CHILD ABUSE IDENTIFICATION AND REPORTING. THE FAMILY AS AN INVIOLABLE INSTITUTION AND THE RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL ARE CONCEPTS WHICH HAVE FURTHER INFLUENCED POLICIES AND PROGRAMS. WHILE PASSAGE OF THE 1974 CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT HAS DONE MUCH TO IMPROVE IDENTIFICATION AND REPORTING OF CHILD ABUSE, IMPLEMENTATION OF ADEQUATE COMMUNITY-BASED TREATMENT AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS IS STILL LACKING. THE EMPHASIS HAS BEEN ON FOSTER HOME PLACEMENT OR RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT OF THE ABUSED CHILD. CONSEQUENTLY, LAWS INTENDED TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM MALTREATMENT AND PRESERVE FAMILY LIFE HAVE IN ACTUALITY HAD THE OPPOSITE EFFECT OF FURTHER DISRUPTING FAMILY TIES AND EXPOSING THE CHILD TO INSTITUTIONAL ABUSE AND NEGLECT. THIS IS PARTICULARLY TRUE WHEN, AS IS THE CASE IN MANY STATES, ABUSED CHILDREN ARE PLACED IN UNDERSTAFFED AND OVERCROWDED JUVENILE DETENTION CENTERS OR TRAINING SCHOOLS. CLEARLY, POLICIES AND PROGRAMS WHICH RELY ON SUBSTITUTION OF FAMILIES RATHER THAN ON SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO SOLVE CHILD ABUSE AND ITS ASSOCIATED PROBLEMS. FAMILY SUPPORT POLICIES, WHEREIN THE STATE PROVIDES RESOURCES AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS TO FACILITATE PARENTING AND FAMILY LIFE, ARE NEEDED. WHILE FAMILY POLICY RESEARCH AND DISCUSSION ARE SEEN AS HOPEFUL SIGNS, THE EXISTENCE OF A FIRMLY ENTRENCHED CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM WHICH EMPHASIZES FOSTER CARE AND INSTITUTIONALIZATION WILL MAKE POLICY REFORM DIFFICULT. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT CURBING THE VIOLENCE IN FAMILIES AND INSTITUTIONS WHICH BREEDS JUVENILE DELINQUENCY AND OTHER PROBLEMS WILL REQUIRE THE PROVISION OF SERVICES TO FAMILIES AND CHILDREN IN THEIR OWN HOMES AND THE AVAILABILITY OF BENEFITS TO ENABLE EVERY FAMILY TO ENJOY A DECENT STANDARD OF LIVING. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (JAP)