Crime Prevention Begins in the Cradle: Studies Show Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Reduces Crime

• NCJ Number: 204256
• Journal: Prosecutor Volume: 38 Issue: 1 Dated: January-February 2004 Pages: 10-11
• Author(s): A. William Ritter
• Date Published: January 2004
• Length: 2 pages
• Sale Source: NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Programs proven to be effective in preventing child abuse and neglect effectively become crime prevention programs, since research has shown that victims of abuse and neglect are more likely than other children to become violent adults.

Abstract

A new report from Fight Crime: Invest in Kids describes strategies that have proven their effectiveness in preventing child abuse and neglect. Chicago's government-funded Child-Parent Centers have served 100,000 3- and 4-year-olds since 1967. Over a period of 14 years, researchers tracked 1,000 of the children who were in the program compared with 550 similar children not in the program. Findings indicate that the program cut rates of child abuse and neglect in half. The Nurse Family Partnership in Elmira, NY, randomly assigned mothers at risk for child abuse and neglect to receive instructional home visits by nurses. As a result of the program, there were 80 percent fewer incidents of child abuse among participants compared to those not enrolled. Children from families not in the program had twice as many arrests by age 15 as the children of participants. The Center for Addiction and Pregnancy in Baltimore, MD, provided 1 week of residential care and then intensive day treatment up until the delivery of each child for 100 drug-abusing, pregnant women. The addicted women not in the program were over two and one-half times more likely to deliver low birth weight babies and were twice as likely to be using illicit drugs at the time of their delivery compared to the women who received treatment. This program is significant for crime prevention, because neurological injuries to children born of drug-abusing mothers place them at greater risk of psychological problems that can lead to violent behavior later in life. There must be a greater investment in proven child abuse prevention programs at all levels of government. Such investments are cost-effective because of the huge costs to individuals and society of the consequences that flow from child abuse and neglect.