Removing the Child - Prosecuting the Offender in Cases of Sexual Abuse Evidence from the National Reporting System for Child Abuse and Neglect

• NCJ Number: 103887
• Journal: Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Dated: special is sue (1983) Pages: 19 5-223
• Author(s): D Finkelhor
• Date Published: 1983
• Length: 11 pages
• Grant Number(s): MH 34109
• Sponsoring Agency: University of New Hampshire; National Institute of Mental Health
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The 6,096 cases of child sexual abuse reported in 1978 to the National Clearinghouse established by the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare were studied to determine the characteristics of the cases and the interventions that occurred.

Abstract

The data came from 31 States and territories, but did not include some States with advanced detection and treatment systems. Most victims were girls, but about 13 percent were boys. The children ranged from ages 1 to 18, with 38 percent between ages 13 and 16. Foster care placement took place in 17 percent of these cases, versus 12 percent of the cases of physical abuse. Foster placement did not occur indiscriminately or disproportionately in poor families. It was most likely to occur for older children who reported their own victimization. Prosecution took place in 24 percent of the cases, almost five times as often as for physical abuse. Criminal justice action took place more often among cases that were directly reported to the police and involved offenders with prior criminal records. Black families and poorer families did not seem to be the objects of obvious discrimination in the prosecution of these cases. Data tables and 20 references. (Author abstract modified)