NCJ Number
175127
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 22 Issue: 9 Dated: September 1998 Pages: 915-929
Date Published
1998
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study attempts to describe differences between intrafamilial and extrafamilial child sexual abuse.
Abstract
The study examined archival data containing 1,037 cases of child sexual abuse. The data were obtained from police files in two western Canadian cities with populations of about 180,000. The study showed: (1) earlier onset, longer duration, higher level of intrusion and greater physical and emotional injury for intrafamilial victims; (2) less use of physical/verbal force, or enticements, and greater use of instructions "not to tell" by intrafamilial offenders; (3) more convictions and longer jail sentences for intrafamilial offenders; and (4) no intra-extrafamilial differences in victim sex preference. Although statistically significant, there was little difference in level of intrusion perpetrated by intra- and extrafamilial offenders; both were highly intrusive. Intrafamilial victims suffered greater physical and emotional injury, resulting from greater intrusion not duration of abuse. Figures, references