NCJ Number
55992
Journal
Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: SPECIAL ISSUE (JANUARY 1979) Pages: 70-88
Date Published
1979
Length
19 pages
Annotation
INFLUENCES ON CASEWORKERS' INTERPRETATIONS OF SITUATIONS INVOLVING SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT ARE ILLUSTRATED IN THREE CASE STUDIES FROM THE FILES OF A ST. JOHN'S, NEWFOUNDLAND, CHILD WELFARE OFFICE.
Abstract
THE CASES REPRESENT DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES AND DIFFERENT DEGREES OF CERTAINTY IN THE CASEWORKER'S DECISION REGARDING THE PRESENCE AND SEVERITY OF ABUSE AND/OR NEGLECT. AMONG FACTORS INFLUENCING THAT DECISION WERE THE AFFLUENCE OF THE SUSPECTED PARTY, THE NATURE OF THE SUPPORT NETWORK AVAILABLE TO THOSE INVOLVED IN THE SITUATION, AND THE ELASTICITY OF THE CONCEPT OF 'SUSPICION.' THE CASEWORKERS REACHED THEIR DECISIONS IN THE CONTEXT OF THEIR ORGANIZATIONAL 'LIFE-WORLD,' WHICH ENCOMPASSES BOTH PROFESSIONAL RELEVANCIES AND THE INFLUENCE OF OTHER ELEMENTS (HOSPITALS, POLICE, COURTS) IN THE ABUSE/NEGLECT INTERVENTION PROCESS. THE DECISION AS TO WHETHER A GIVEN SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES CONSTITUTED THE ENTITY RECOGNIZED AS ABUSE/NEGLECT TOOK PLACE NOT IN THE HOUSEHOLDS WHERE THE CIRCUMSTANCES EXISTED, BUT AT THE INTERFACE OF THE BUREAUCRACY AND THE SUSPECTED HOUSEHOLDS. AT THIS INTERFACE, THE DEFINITIONAL POWER OF THE FORMER IS GREATER THAN THAT OF THE LATTER. THE PROCESS BY WHICH INSTANCES OF SUSPECTED ABUSE ARE TRANSLATED INTO CASES OF ABUSE IS RELATED IN PART TO BUREAUCRATIC CONTINGENCIES WHICH THEMSELVES ARE RELATED ONLY TANGENTIALLY TO THE BEHAVIOR (ABUSE/NEGLECT) AT ISSUE. (LKM)