NCJ Number
78347
Date Published
1980
Length
25 pages
Annotation
This brief provides information on the extent of child sexual abuse, incest, and exploitation in Wisconsin; the definition of these acts, development of data, Wisconsin laws and Wisconsin organizations and programs are included.
Abstract
Wisconsin's child abuse reporting law mandates reporting only the crime of sexual assault against a child--i.e., sexual contact or sexual intercourse and not exhibitionism and verbal approaches and other similar acts. This causes difficulties in getting an accurate estimate of the extent of sexual abuse in the State. According to 1979 sexual assault reports submitted to the central registry, of the 694 reported cases, 318 (45.8 percent) were indicated and 376 (54.2 percent) unfounded. Males were the alleged victims in 16.4 percent of the cases, while females were victims in 83.6 percent of the cases. A total of 84.1 percent of the cases involved white children, 10.2 percent black, 1.4 percent Spanish, and 2 percent Native American. Prior neglect of the child was reported in only 1.6 percent of the cases. The most frequently provided services to the family include casework, criminal court referral, health services (including mental health), and juvenile court referrals and foster care. Some of the Wisconsin organizations and programs that provide services to child victims of sexual assault and abuse include the Family Hospital of Milwaukee, Parents Anonymous, and the Milwaukee County Child Sexual Abuse Team. Finally, possible approaches to alleviate these problems include establishing uniform State reporting laws and a toll-free, statewide hotline for victims and creating public education programs and community treatment programs. Tables and footnotes are included.