|
NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE STATISTICS
Compiled June 2002 by Childhelp USA®
NOTE: The U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, Children's Bureau (www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cb/index.htm)
typically releases its most current child
abuse statistics, as reported by the states,
in April of each year. The following
includes its most recent findings, which
analyzed data for calendar year 2000.
FATALITIES
Each day in the United States, more than 3
children die as a result of child abuse in
the home.
In 2000, an estimated 1,200 children died
of abuse and neglect—an average of more than
3 children per day. (Victims known to child
protective services agencies, which track
abuse and neglect in the home.) 1
Most of the children who die are younger than
six years of age.
Of these fatalities, 85 percent were under
the age of six; 44 percent of the children
were under the age of one. 1
More children (age four and younger) die from
child abuse and neglect than any other
single, leading cause of death for infants
and young children.
This includes falls, choking on food,
suffocation, drowning, residential fires, and
motor vehicle accidents. 2
REPORTING OF ABUSE
Approximately 3 million reports of possible
maltreatment are made to child protective
service agencies each year. In calendar year
2000, these referrals concerned the welfare
of approximately 5 million children. 1
In 1999, an estimated 2.974 million child
abuse reports were received by local child
protective services (CPS) agencies. 1
The
actual incidence of abuse and neglect is
estimated to be three times greater than the
number reported to authorities. 3
Child abuse is reported—on average—every 10
seconds.
Based on approximately 3 million reports per
year. 1
An
estimated 879,000 victims of maltreatment
were substantiated after investigation by
child protective services agencies in 2000.
1
Nine in 10 Americans polled regard child
abuse as a serious problem, yet only 1 in 3
reported abuse when confronted with an actual
situation. 4
TYPES OF ABUSE
In 2000, victimization rates were similar for
male and female children (11.2 and 12.8 per
1,000 children, respectively). The exception
was sexual abuse: 1.7 victims per 1,000
female children compared to 0.4 victims per
1,000 male children.1
Types of maltreatment
included:1
|
Neglect (including medical neglect) |
63% |
|
Physical Abuse |
19% |
|
Sexual Abuse |
10% |
|
Psychological Maltreatment |
8% |
SEXUAL ASSAULT OF CHILDREN
Convicted rape and sexual assault offenders
serving time in state prisons report that
two-thirds of their victims were under the
age of 18.
5
One
of every seven victims of sexual assault
reported to law enforcement agencies were
under age six.
6
Among rape victims less than 12 years of age,
90% of the children knew the offender,
according to police-recorded incident data.
5
Frequently, the person who sexually molests a
child is also a child.
6
40%
of the offenders who sexually assaulted
children under age 6 were juveniles (under
the age of 18).
6
INFLUENCE OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Nearly one-half of substantiated cases of
child neglect and abuse are associated with
parental alcohol or drug abuse.
7
It is estimated that one in every four
children in the United States (28 million)
are living in a household with an alcoholic
adult.
8
Men and women serving time in the nation’s
prisons and jails report a higher incidence
of abuse as children than the general
population. 9
More than a third of women in the nation’s
prisons and jails reported abuse as children,
compared with 12% to 17% for women in the
general population. About 14% of male
inmates reported abuse as children, compared
with 5% to 8% of men in the general
population.
9
SOURCES:
1
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
Children’s Bureau. National Child Abuse
and Neglect Data System (NCANDS).
Summary of Key Findings from Calendar Year
2000 (Washington, D.C.: April, 2002).
Online summary of findings:
www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/cb/publications/index.htm
2
A Nation’s Shame: Fatal Child
Abuse and Neglect in the United States
(Published April 1995, U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, Advisory Board on
Child Abuse and Neglect). Based upon figures
from the National Safety Council and the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
3
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect.
Third National Incidence Study of Child
Abuse and Neglect: Final Report (NIS-3)
(Washington, D.C.: Government Printing
Office, September 1996).
4 National poll
conducted by Penn, Schoen & Berland for Los
Angeles-based Children’s Institute
International (CII). Results released June
3, 1999.
www.childrensinstitute.org. (Press
Release: How America Defines Child Abuse).
5
From more than
two dozen statistical datasets maintained by
the Bureau of Justice Statistics and
data from the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR)
Program of the FBI. Available online from
the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of
Justice Statistics (www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs).
Located in publications section under: “Sex
Offenses and Offenders” Jan.-Feb. 97. NCJ
163392
6
Findings from the National Incident-Based
Reporting System (NIBRS). Data based on
reports from law enforcement agencies for
years 1991 through 1996. Available online
from the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of
Justice Statistics (www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs).
Located in the publications section under:
“Sexual Assault of Young Children as Reported
to Law Enforcement: Victim, Incident, and
Offender Characteristics” July 2000. NCJ
182990
7Child
Welfare League of America: Alcohol and
Other Drug Survey of State Child Welfare
Agencies. Washington, D.C.: Child
Welfare League of America, 1998.
8
Grant, B.:
Estimates of U.S. Children Exposed to Alcohol
Abuse and Dependence in the Family.
American Journal of Public Health January
2000; 90:112, Washington.
9
Based upon several surveys of inmates
and adults on probation (1995-1997).
Available online from the U.S. Department of
Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics (www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs).
Located in publications section under: “Prior
Abuse Reported by Inmates and Probationers”
April 99. NCJ 172879
NOTE: Additional
sources of child
abuse statistics may be found at the Web site
of the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse
and Neglect Information:
www.calib.com/nccanch/pubs. In
particular, see “Child Abuse and
Neglect/Child Welfare Webliography” under
“Other Publications” for a listing of over
300 Web sites that provide information
resources.
|
