NCJ Number
68692
Journal
Victimology Volume: 4 Issue: 4 Dated: (1979) Pages: 348-360
Date Published
1979
Length
13 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE EXAMINES 102 CASES OF FATHER-DAUGHTER INCEST, CREATES A PROFILE OF THE OFFENDER FROM THEM, AND COMPARES INCESTUOUS FATHERS AND THEIR FAMILIES WITH ABUSIVE FATHERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
Abstract
UNLIKE EARLIER STUDIES, DATA WAS COLLECTED NATIONALLY FROM 99,579 CASES OF CHILD NEGLECT AND ABUSE WHICH WERE SCANNED FOR CASES OF SEXUAL ABUSE AND FATHER-DAUGHTER INCEST. INCEST CASES FOUND WERE 409; FATHER-DAUGHTER INCEST CASES-102. THOSE 102 CASES WERE EXAMINED TO FIND THE CHARACTERISTICS OF PERPETRATORS AND OF INCESTUOUS FAMILIES AND TO DISCOVER WHAT SERVICES WERE PROVIDED TO THESE FAMILIES. THIS DATA WAS THEN COMPARED TO CHARACTERISTICS OF PERPETRATORS IN VALIDATED ABUSE CASES, THE ABUSIVE FAMILY, AND SERVICES PROVIDED THEM. ANALYSIS OF THE DATA SHOWED THAT THE INITIAL SOURCE OF INCEST REPORTS WAS USUALLY THE VICTIM, AND THAT 93.1 PERCENT OF INCESTUOUS HOUSEHOLDS CONTAINED A MOTHER AND FATHER WITH THE MOTHER OFTEN AWARE OF THE INCESTUOUS RELATIONSHIP. INCESTUOUS FAMILIES ALSO TEND TO BE LARGER THAN NONINCESTUOUS FAMILIES, AND THE MAJORITY OF MALE PERPETRATORS OF INCEST ARE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 35 AND 49, AND EMPLOYED IN SKILLED AND PROFESSIONAL OCCUPATIONAL CATEGORIES. CASEWORK COUNSELING SERVICES WERE RECEIVED BY 74.4 PERCENT OF INCESTUOUS FAMILIES AND IN 31.4 PERCENT, CRIMINAL ACTION WAS TAKEN AGAINST THE PERPETRATOR. REHABILITATION IS SEEN AS PREFERABLE TO PUNITIVE ACTION SINCE THE INCESTUOUS FATHER CAN BE REEDUCATED AND TREATED. MORE PROMISING, INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS TO TREAT INCESTUOUS FAMILIES WITHOUT INCARCERATING THE FATHER ARE NEEDED, AS IS RESEARCH INTO AND EVALUATION OF THESE PROGRAMS. TABULAR DATA AND REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED.