RESOLUTION OF CHILD ABUSE - A PROCESS ANALYSIS

• NCJ Number: 51042
• Author(s): C D BROCKER
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 353 pages
• Sale Source: UMI Dissertation Services
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN - MADISON - DOCTROAL DISSERTATION

Annotation

A SYSTEMS ANALYSIS APPROACH IS USED WITH DATA FROM THE WISCONSIN CHILD ABUSE CENTRAL REGISTRY TO ISOLATE THOSE CHARACTERISTICS LEADING TO ABUSE AND INFLUENCING THE DISPOSITION OF CASES BY THE MEDICAL-SOCIAL-LEGAL SYSTEM.

Abstract

HEART OF THIS STUDY IS A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE 402 REPORTS RECEIVED BY THE SYSTEM IN 1970; 305 OF THESE WERE DETERMINED TO BE ABUSE AND ENTERED THE SYSTEM. IT WAS FOUND THAT 268 FAMILIES WERE INVOLVED, 32 FAMILIES HAVING MORE THAN 1 CHILD IN THE SAME REPORTABLE INCIDENT. AS HAS BEEN FOUND IN OTHER STUDIES, THE PARENTS WERE THE MOST FREQUENT ABUSERS (150 FATHERS, 118 MOTHERS, AND 18 CASES OF BOTH PARENTS). THE MOTHER'S BOYFRIEND WAS THE MOST FREQUENTY IDENTIFIED 'OTHER.' THE AGE OF THE CHILDREN WAS OLDER THAN IN OTHER STUDIES, A MEAN OF 7.4 YEARS WITH LESS THAN A FOURTH UNDER AGE 3. TEENAGE GIRLS WERE FREQUENT SUBJECTS OF ABUSE. THE SEVERITY OF INJURY WAS MILDER THAN REPORTED NATIONALLY. ABUSERS WERE CONCENTRATED IN LOWER SOCIOECONOMIC STRATA AND REPORTED OTHER SOCIAL PROBLEMS. THE STUDY THEN EXAMINES UNREPORTED ABUSE AND POSTULATES THAT HIGHER SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS PROTECTS FAMILIES FROM REPORTS. CHARACTERISTICS WHICH INFLUENCE DISPOSITION OF THE CASE WERE IDENTIFIED AS: ABUSER'S SEX (FATHERS WERE MORE LIKELY TO BE PROSECUTED IN A CRIMINAL COURT, MOTHERS HANDLED IN JUVENILE COURT), PREVIOUS KNOWN ABUSE, FAMILY STRESS, CHILD STRESS, SEVERITY OF INJURY, CATCHMENT AREA (URBAN MORE LIKELY TO HAVE SOCIAL SERVICES), AND THE SUBSTANTIATION OF ABUSE IN THE CASE WORKER'S JUDGMENT. THE LIKELIHOOD OF A CASE BEING REPORTED DEPENDED UPON SEASON, SEVERITY OF INJURY, FATHER'S EDUCATION, TYPE OF FAMILY STRESS, WORKER'S JUDGMENT, TYPE OF REPORTER, ABUSER'S OCCUPATION, CATCHMENT AREA, NUMBER OF SIBLINGS, AND CHILD'S AGE. A HOTLINE TO ENABLE REPORTS DURING THE SUMMER WHEN ACTIVE SCHOOL INTERVENTION IS NOT AVAILABLE IS URGED. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS AND ABUSE REPORTING NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. THE REPORT CONTAINS MANY TABLES, CHARTS AND GRAPHS, A BILBIOGRAPHY, AND APPENDED MATERIALS RELEVANT TO THE WISCONSIN CHILD ABUSE REPORTING SYSTEM. (GLR)