NCJ Number
187360
Journal
Journal of Juvenile Law Volume: 22 Dated: 1999 Pages: 38-59
Editor(s)
Tonya K. Cole
Date Published
1999
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This article discusses animal cruelty as it relates to the existence of child abuse, animal cruelty by children as a symptomatic precursor to violent adult crime, the present understanding of the link by the psychological and legal professions, why intervention is necessary, the current legal situation, and what additional action is needed.
Abstract
Researchers who study the relationships between humans and animals have found that animals play an important role in both normal and disturbed families. Although social and behavioral science professionals recognize the link between violence toward animals and violence committed upon and by children, many jurisdictions have been slow to respond to the connection legally. It is now time for the legal community to respond and attempt to reduce violence in the lives of children both as victims and as perpetrators. Animal cruelty is a warning sign that children may be in serious danger of either graduating to more extreme human violence or being victimized by the abusers themselves. Intervention is necessary to prevent the cycle of violence from continuing. Prevention will only be accomplished when society increases its recognition of the problem. Mandatory cross reporting systems need to be implemented. Only through the combined efforts of agencies concerned with the prevention of animal and child abuse can instances of animal and child abuse be decreased.