Repeated Abuse During Childhood

• NCJ Number: 185167
• Author(s): Catherine E. Hamilton; Kevin D. Browne
• Date Published: April 2000
• Length: 6 pages
• Sale Source: Great Britain Home Office, Policing and Reducing Crime Unit
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

This note outlines the findings of a 3-year study on the repeated abuse of children in England, a study conducted in child protection units of the West Midlands Police.

Abstract

The study sample consisted of 400 children, about 5 percent of cases referred in 1994. This sample was selected by taking the first 40 children referred to each of the 10 child protection units from November 1, 1994. The cases were then followed up after 9 months, 18 months, and 27 months. In examining the extent of re-referral, the study distinguished between a child who had been abused on more than one occasion by the same perpetrator and a child who had been abused on more than one occasion by different perpetrators. Of the sample of 400 children, 42 percent were boys and 58 percent were girls. The most common index referral was for physical abuse (43 percent), followed by sexual abuse (30 percent), neglect (11 percent), more than one type of abuse (11 percent), and emotional abuse (5 percent). A police response at index referral was made in 81 percent of the cases. Outcomes included no further action (64 percent), cautioning or charging the perpetrators (13 percent), and pending (4 percent). The remaining cases were identified as resulting from accidental injuries or as being of no cause for concern. Twenty-seven percent had previously been referred and 24 percent were subject to at least one re-referral in the 27-month follow-up period from the index referral in November 1994. Most re-referrals to police child protection units related to a child being repeatedly maltreated by the same family member. Re-referral status was not related to police response at the index referral. Recommendations for further study are offered that focus on obtaining specific information on repeat victimization generated from a referral, sharing referral information on victims across divisions and agencies, developing a strategic response to referrals that considers the number of repeat victimizations a child has suffered, and identifying children at high risk for re-referral. 13 references, 3 tables, and 1 figure