NCJ Number
220033
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 31 Issue: 7 Dated: July 2007 Pages: 731-746
Date Published
2007
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This study examined the background of fathers who fatally abused their children and the reasons the homicides occurred.
Abstract
Results of the findings showed that the majority of the offenders were stepfathers cohabiting with the birth mothers. Many offenders had an established propensity to use violence against children in their care and against intimate partners. The study findings raised questions about the gender dynamic and generational boundaries operating in the families. The findings suggest that professionals working in child protection should provide effective services to children and families, and they should be aware of men’s attitudes towards and expectations of fathering (especially stepfathering) which may increase levels of risk to both children and intimate partners. Data were gathered from 26 cases of fatal child abuse from the national Homicide Indices for England/Wales and Scotland, which contained a limited amount of data; case files of a sample of 866 men and women convicted of murder; and 200 indepth interviews with men and women serving life sentences in prison for murder (Lewis, Dobash, Dobash, and Cavanagh, 2003). Tables, references