Chapter 11 Supplement Child Victimization

• In 1998, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that child protective service agencies received about 2,806,000 referrals of possible maltreatment. In the referrals investigated (66%), states found that there were an estimated 903,000 children who were victims of abuse or neglect (Shalala 10 April 2000).

• The 1998 national child abuse and neglect statistics reported by states show the total number of maltreated children in this country declined to just over 900,000 children. The incidence rate of children victimized by maltreatment also declined to 12.9 per 1,000 (Ibid.).

• Parents continue to be the main perpetrators of child maltreatment. In 1998, more than 80% of all reported victims were maltreated by one or both parents. Victims of physical abuse and sexual abuse, however, were more likely to be maltreated by a male parent acting alone. More than half of all reported victims (54%) suffered neglect; 23%, physical abuse; and 12%, sexual abuse. The number of reported child fatalities caused by maltreatment remained unchanged at about 1,000 (Ibid.).

• Since the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children began tracking newborn baby abductions from hospitals in 1983, 1999 marks the first year that not a single report of a newborn baby being kidnapped by a nonfamily member was made from a hospital nationwide (NCMEC March 2000).

• In 1997, child protective service agencies investigated 3 million reports of child abuse, of which just under 1 million cases were substantiated. In addition, 2,200 children are reported missing to law enforcement agencies every day (Connelly June 1999).

• The FBI's National Incident-Based Reporting System data indicate that between 1991 and 1996, persons under the age of twelve were the victims of 5.5% of all violent crime incidents reported to a law enforcement agency (Ibid., 29).

The Child Protection and Sexual Predator Punishment Act of 1998 addresses protection for children from sexual predators and child pornography and prevention of sexual abuse. It prohibits the transfer of obscene material to minors, and increases penalties for offenses against children and for repeat offenders. Furthermore, the Act amends the Child Abuse Act of 1990 by requiring online service providers to report evidence of child pornography offenses to law enforcement agencies. (Public Law 105-314: The Child Protection and Sexual Predator Punishment Act of 1998, October 30, 1998.)

The Missing, Exploited, and Runaway Children Protection Act of 1999 amends the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to include findings that it is the responsibility of the federal government to:

• Assist in the development of an accurate national reporting system on runaway and homeless youth; conduct a study of a representative sample of runaways to determine the percentage who leave home because of sexual abuse and report to Congress; and make grants to nonprofit private agencies to provide street-based services to runaway, homeless, and street youth, who have been subjected to, or are at risk of being subjected to, sexual abuse, prostitution, or sexual exploitation. (Public Law No. 106: The Missing, Exploited, and Runaway Children Protection Act, October 12, 1999.)

The Child Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Act and Jennifer's Law signed into law on March 10, 2000, modifies the parameters of certain federal grant programs to: increase funds available for improved enforcement of child abuse and neglect laws; promote programs for improved child abuse and neglect prevention; establish cooperative programs between law enforcement and media organizations to collect, record, retain, and disseminate information useful in the identification and apprehension of suspected criminal offenders; and authorize grant awards to enable states to improve the reporting of unidentified and missing persons. (Public Law No: 106-177: Child Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Act and Jennifer's Law, March 10, 2000.)

"Cassie's Law," signed on April 3, 2000, in Idaho, amends existing domestic violence laws to include acts of violence in a dating relationship against a minor child by a person with whom the child is having a dating (social relationship of a romantic nature) relationship. The law specifies that a custodial or non-custodial parent or guardian of a minor child may file a petition for a dating violence restraining order to protect the minor child from the abuser. (SB# 1523aaH, State of Idaho, April 3, 2000.)

Some states are modifying laws to assist child witnesses of crime and awarding them crime victim compensation. For example, the California State Board of Control (SBOC) has recently expanded the definitions of victims of crime so that children who witness an act of domestic violence are now presumed to have sustained injury and are eligible for a higher level of Crime Victims Restitution. (Government Code #13960 (B) (3) Chapter 584 Statutes of 1999 (California Assembly Bill 606) January 1, 2000.)

CHILD VICTIMS AND POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD)

Child victims/witnesses of unexpected violent crime resulting in the possible injury of one person by another are likely to suffer PTSD. Current research suggests that the psychological traumatic disability that can result from an actual or possible criminal assault can be seriously debilitating and may entitle the child victim to compensation and personal injury claims (Miller 1999).

Child victims are particularly vulnerable to PTSD. One recent study analyzed startle reflexes in school-age children suffering from PTSD after witnessing a shooting, and found that their physiological startle patterns regressed such that the responses of a ten-year-old child resembled those of a five-year-old. The affected children overreacted to environmental cues as if their "danger-detection system" were permanently engaged. Preliminary experimental data suggests that childhood traumatization impairs "normal neuron-to-neuron synaptic development in the cerebral cortex of the brain's frontal lobe leading to deficits in attention, planning, reasoning, and behavior control" (Ibid.).

NEW VIOLENCE PREVENTION GUIDELINES IN ROUTINE PEDIATRIC PRACTICE

Following a two-year study of violence and children, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recommended that pediatricians integrate violence prevention guidelines into routine clinical practice. AAP proposes that pediatricians take a role in preventing and managing violence in four areas:

• Clinical Practice. Identify risk factors within the family such as substance abuse, history of mental illness, and stresses that lead to violence and make appropriate referrals. Screening should begin during prenatal visits and continue through young adulthood.

• Advocacy. Become advocates for children by offering quality affordable child care, counseling against corporal punishment, and collaborating with other child advocacy disciplines to maximize efforts.

• Education. Call upon medical schools and pediatric residency programs to enhance their own knowledge and skills in the area of violence prevention and to develop and institute appropriate curricula on prevention and management of youth violence.

• Research. Contribute to research on youth violence prevention by participating in violence-related, practice-based research projects (AAP January 1999).

• The Child Witness to Violence Project is a counseling, advocacy, and outreach project at Boston City Hospital that addresses the needs of children who are bystanders to community and domestic violence. Services include assessment, counseling, parent guidance, advocacy, and coordination with legal and social service agencies. The project began in 1992 and currently counsels over 200 children and their families each year, in addition to implementing both national and state-focused training programs for health care professionals, law enforcement, educators, and many victim service professionals who confront issues of children witnessing violence. The Child Witness to Violence Project, Boston City Hospital, Talbot 217, 818 Harrison Avenue, Boston MA 02118 (617-414-4244).

• Families and Schools Together (FAST) program is a nonprofit family counseling agency in Madison, WI that helps at-risk youth (ages three to fourteen) build relationships through a research- and family therapy-based, multifamily group approach to preventing juvenile delinquency. Originally a program that provided court-ordered therapy with drug and alcohol-involved violent youth, it is currently a collaboration between family services and elementary school teachers to identify school children about whom they have behavioral concerns. It provides structured opportunities in relationship-building interactions with parents and other caretakers, peers, and school and community representatives from which they can develop "social safety nets" for at-risk periods. The program seeks to strengthen parent-child relationships; empower parents to be primary prevention agents for their children; improve the child's performance at school; empower the parents to be partners in the educational process; increase family affiliations with schools; educate the family about substance abuse and its impact on child development; link the families to treatment centers; develop ongoing support groups for parents of at-risk children; and build the self-esteem of the family members (McDonald and Frey November 1999).

• Through My Eyes is a nine-minute video tape produced by the Office for Victims of Crime and Video/Action Fund that tells the story of children who are exposed to violence and how such exposure affects their well-being and their emotional/psychological development. The videotape is intended for a wide audience, including those who work with children at risk, law enforcement, criminal justice professionals, child victim service providers, and policymakers. Available free from the Office for Victims of Crime Resource Center (800-627-6872), NCJ 178229.

Chapter 11 Supplement References

Connelly, H. June 1999. "Children Exposed to Violence: Criminal Justice Resources." Office for Victims of Crime Bulletin. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime.

McDonald, L., and H. Frey. November 1999. "Families and Schools Together, Relationship Building." Juvenile Justice Bulletin. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

Miller, L. 1999. "Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Child Victims of Crime: Making the Case for Psychological Injury." Victim Advocate 1 (1).

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). March 2000. "Baby Kidnappings From Hospitals Decrease to Zero." The Frontline XXXX. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Programs.

Shalala, D. 10 April 2000. HHS Reports New Child Abuse and Neglect Statistics. Washington DC: Administration for Children and Families, The Department of Health and Human Resources.

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