TESTIMONY OF DOUGLAS J BESHAROV, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL CENTER ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, FEBRUARY 14, 1978 (FROM RESEARCH INTO VIOLENT BEHAVIOR - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, 1978 - SEE NCJ-56298)

• NCJ Number: 56300
• Author(s): D J BESHAROV
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 36 pages
• Corporate Author: US Congress
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

TESTIMONY BEFORE THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT FOUND A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SPOUSAL VIOLENCE AND CHILD ABUSE.

Abstract

EVEN THOUGH THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT (REFERRED TO HEREAFTER AS THE CENTER) HAD NOT IDENTIFIED THE QUESTION OF SPOUSAL VIOLENCE AS A PRIORITY IN RESEARCH AND TREATMENT PROGRAMS, SPOUSAL VIOLENCE WAS EVIDENT IN DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS AT TREATMENT PROJECTS IN SAN DIEGO, CALIF., AND IN PROGRAMS ON INDIAN RESERVATIONS AND ON MILITARY BASES. ONE FULL CENSUS STUDY, BASED ON OFFICIAL REPORTS OF CHILD ABUSE CASES, FOUND THAT ONE IN FIVE CASES, (20 PERCENT,) OF VALIDATED CHILD ABUSES HAD A DOCUMENTED CASE OF AN ACTUAL PHYSICAL ATTACK ON A SPOUSE. THESE FINDINGS CAME FROM CASEWORKERS VISITING HOMES TO PROTECT CHILDREN. WHILE IT IS NOT KNOWN WHETHER 20 PERCENT OF THE CASELOAD OF CHILD ABUSE IS SUFFICIENT BASIS TO PRESUME THAT CHILD ABUSE CASES ALSO INVOLVE SPOUSAL VIOLENCE, THIS FIGURE IS SUFFICIENT TO INDICATE THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF AMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS IN WHICH VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE INCLUDE WOMEN AS WELL AS CHILDREN. THIS FACT RAISES THE QUESTION OF WHICH FEDERAL AGENCY SHOULD ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR RESPONDING TO SUCH FAMILIES. THE CENTER'S DIRECTOR FELT THAT WHERE THERE ARE INCIDENTS OF SPOUSAL VIOLENCE WITH CHILD ABUSE AS WELL, THEN THE CENTER'S LEGISLATIVE MISSION REQUIRES IT TO BE INVOLVED. HOWEVER, THERE ARE MANY CASES OF SPOUSAL VIOLENCE WITHOUT CHILD ABUSE THAT WOULD BE BEYOND THE CENTER'S PRESENT LEGISLATIVE MANDATE. (KCP).