Investigations by child protective services (CPS) agencies in 49 States determined that just under 1 million children were victims of substantiated or indicated child abuse and neglect in 1997.

In 1997, CPS agencies investigated an estimated 2 million reports alleging the maltreatment of almost 3 million children. More than half of all reports alleging maltreatment came from professionals, including educators, law enforcement and justice officials, medical and mental health professionals, social service professionals and child care providers.

About 25 percent of reports came from relatives of the child or from the child himself. Reports from professionals are more likely to be substantiated or indicated than reports from nonprofessional sources.

More children suffer neglect than any other form of maltreatment. Investigations determined that about 56 percent of victims in 1997 suffered neglect, 25 percent physical abuse, 13 percent sexual abuse, 6 percent emotional maltreatment, 2 percent medical neglect, and 11 percent other forms of maltreatment. Some children suffer more than one type of maltreatment.

Child abuse and neglect affect children of all ages. Among children confirmed as victims by CPS agencies in 1997, more than half were 7 years of age or younger, with about 26 percent younger than 4 years old.

About 27 percent of victims were children ages 8 - 12, another 23 percent were youth ages 13 - 18. Case-level data from 16 States suggest that the majority of victims of neglect and medical neglect were younger than 8 years old, while the majority of victims of other types of maltreatment were age 8 or older. Both boys and girls experience child maltreatment.

In 1997, about 52 percent of victims were female and 48 percent were male. Child maltreatment can result in the death of a child. In 1997, 41 States reported that 967 children were known by CPS agencies to have died as a result of abuse or neglect. Case-level data suggest that 77 percent of these children were 3 years of age or younger. Not all child maltreatment fatalities are reported to CPS agencies.

Several studies suggest that even more children suffer from abuse or neglect than are seen through official statistics from State CPS agencies. Based on reports received and investigated by CPS agencies in 1997, about 13.9 children per 1,000 children younger than 18 in the general population were found to be victims of abuse or neglect.

The Third National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect (a study involving 5,600 community professionals who come into contact with children) estimates that 42 children per 1,000 in the population were harmed or endangered by abuse or neglect in 1993. A 1995 telephone survey of parents conducted by the Gallup Poll estimated that as many as 49 children per 1,000 in the population suffered physical abuse and 19 per 1,000 suffered sexual abuse.

(This report was taken from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System.)
Gibbs Staff
Republished 11/14/05

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