NCJ Number
145372
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: (1993) Pages: 1-12
Date Published
1993
Length
12 pages
Annotation
A sample of 157 child sexual abuse cases reported in a large metropolitan child protective services (CPS) agency over a 3-month period was used to examine what happens to these children and their families after the initial report is made.
Abstract
The findings included descriptive information concerning the investigation findings, disposition, intervention, and recurrence of maltreatment. There was a recurrence of maltreatment in approximately 10 percent of the cases in this sample. Strong predictors of recidivism included attributes of the perpetrator and perpetrator access, presence of neglect as well as sexual abuse in the initial report, quality of care provided by the mother, and the primary caretaker's ability to engage positively with the CPS agency. The authors suggest that the methodology of this study should be replicated in other settings to compare findings on predictors for use in CPS risk assessment, while longitudinal studies would contribute to an understanding of the nature of the CPS and service system response and the effectiveness of various interventions. 2 tables, 3 notes, and 9 references