2. Introduction
• Throughout history, children have endured physical
violence
• During the industrial, urban and machine ages,
exploitation of child labor was common
• Mistreating children was considered a family matter
• Crimes against children include maltreatment, sexual
exploitation, trafficking and abduction
Hess 11-2
3. Maltreatment of Children: Neglect and Abuse
TYPES OF MALTREATMENT
• Maltreatment means to treat roughly or abuse
• Neglect
• Physical abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Sexual abuse
Hess 11-3
4. Extent of the Problem
MALTREATMENT STATISTICS
• Birth to 1 year had highest rate of victimization
• Victimization was split between the sexes
• More than 75 percent of victims suffered neglect
• More than 15 percent of victims suffered physical
abuse
Hess 11-4
5. Children as Victims of Violent Crime
CHILD FATALITIES IN 2009
• Estimated 1,770 children died
• 2.34 deaths per 100,000 children
• Four-fifths were younger than 4 years old
• One-third attributed to neglect exclusively
• One-third caused by multiple maltreatment types
Hess 11-5
6. Effects of Child Abuse and Neglect
RESULTING DAMAGE
• Serious and permanent damage
Physical, mental and emotional
• Future violent and criminal behavior
• Intergenerational transmission of violence
Hess 11-6
7. Risk Factors for Child Maltreatment
INCREASED CHANCES
• Children younger than 4 years of age
• Special needs children
• History of child maltreatment in family
• Substance abuse
• Parental characteristics
• Concentrated neighborhood disadvantage
Hess 11-7
8. Child Abuse and Neglect Laws
OVERVIEW
• Typically child abuse and neglect laws have three
components:
Criminal definitions and penalties
Mandate to report suspected cases
Civil process for removing the child from the
abusive or neglectful environment
Hess 11-8
9. Child Abuse and Neglect Laws
FEDERAL LEGISLATION
• Courts often determine punishment as reasonable
STATE LAWS
• Every state has enacted child abuse and neglect laws
• States offer a bit more protection to children
• What is “reasonable” varies from state to state
Hess 11-9
10. Case Processing
CHILD WELFARE
• Child protective services (CPS) agencies
• Acts on behalf of a child
• Parents are unable or unwilling to do so
• Provides protective custody
• Formal investigation is required frequently
Hess 11-10
11. Challenges in Investigating Child
Maltreatment Cases
PROTECTING THE CHILD
• Possibility of present or continued danger exists
• Child must be removed into protective custody
NEED TO INVOLVE OTHER AGENCIES
• Traditionally conducted separately
• Multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach
Hess 11-11
12. Challenges in Investigating Child
Maltreatment Cases
DIFFICULTY IN INTERVIEWING CHILDREN
• Consider child’s age
• Ability to describe event
• Potential retaliation for “telling”
CREDIBILITY CONCERNS
• Must protect the innocent and falsely accused
Hess 11-12
13. The Initial Report
REPORT SUBMISSIONS
• Most reports of child neglect or abuse are made by
third parties
Teachers
Physicians
Neighbors
Siblings or parents
Hess 11-13
14. The Police Response
INTERVIEWING ABUSED CHILDREN
• Requires special skills
• Obtain background
information
• Direct
• Honest
• Understanding
• Professional
Hess 11-14
15. Evidence
OBSERVATIONS
• Surroundings
• Home conditions
• Clothing
• Bruises or other body injuries
• Medical examination report
Hess 11-15
16. Evidence
INDICATORS
• Physical or behavioral or both
• Neglect
• Emotional abuse
• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse
Hess 11-16
17. The Suspect
PARENT AS SUSPECT
• Munchausen syndrome and Munchausen by proxy
syndrome
• Osteogenesis imperfecta
• Sudden infant death syndrome
• Investigating child fatalities
Hess 11-17
18. The Suspect
SEX CRIMES BY OTHER CHILDREN
• Do not dismiss
• Investigate thoroughly
THE NONPARENT SUSPECT
• Misoped
• Hebephile
• Pedophile or chicken hawk
Hess 9-18
19. The Pedophile
OVERVIEW
• No specific demographic for a child predator
• An expert in selecting and enticing young people
• Most rarely use force
• Involved in activities with easy access to children
• Situational and preferential
• Pedophilia is a sex offense in all states
Hess 11-19
20. The Pedophile
CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE RINGS
• Solo sex rings
• Transition sex rings
• Syndicated sex rings
RITUALISTIC ABUSE BY SATANIC CULTS
• Certain cults involve sexual abuse of children
Hess 11-20
21. The Pedophile
VICTIMOLOGY
• Positive offender-victim bond
OFFENDER REACTIONS
• Complete denial
• Minimizing the acts
• Justifying the acts and blaming the victims
• Claiming to be sick
Hess 11-21
22. Commercial Sexual Exploitation
COMMERCE
• Pornography
• Child Protection Act (1984)
• Internet sex crimes against
children
• Models to combat exploitation
Special task forces
Strike forces and law enforcement networks
Continued
Hess 11-22
23. Commercial Sexual Exploitation (Continued)
COMMERCE
• Federal agencies working against child pornography
• International initiatives
• Prostitution of juveniles
• Trafficking of children
• Commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC)
Hess 11-23
24. Missing Children: Runaway or Abducted?
OVERVIEW
• Determining runaway or abduction is a challenge
• Parental abduction is most frequent
• Runaway children
Insecure and depressed
Unhappy and impulsive
• Abducted children
Often kidnapped
Hess 11-24
25. Missing Children: Runaway or Abducted?
AMBER ALERT PLAN
• Voluntary partnership between law enforcement and
broadcasters
• Nationwide alert system for abducted children
BEYOND AMBER ALERT AND ADDITIONAL
RESOURCES
• Child Abduction Response Team (CART)
• Team HOPE
Hess 11-25
26. Children as Witnesses in Court
PROVIDING TESTIMONY
• Give preference on the docket
• Some courts permit videotaping
• Limiting privileges for repeat examinations
• Some courts remove the accused from courtroom
• Courtroom preparation techniques
Hess 11-26
27. Preventing Crimes against Children
CHILD ABUSERS
• Any race, age or occupation
• Someone close or a complete stranger
• Online predators
• Children are unaware
• Children need adequate information
Hess 11-27
28. Summary
• Crimes against children include:
Maltreatment (neglect and abuse)
Sexual exploitation (pornography and prostitution)
Trafficking and abduction
• May be prevented by educating children about
potential danger
• Keeping the channels of communication open
Hess 11-28
