Crime, Violence and Abuse in the Lives of Children: A Comprehensive Approach David Finkelhor Crimes against Children Research Center University of New Hampshire Social Justice for Children Brooklyn College, NYC 4 November 2011 2011 Children s Studies Center, Brooklyn College
Youth Risk - Adult Risk (12-17) Children More Victimized than Adults, General Crime 4 3 2 2.0 x 2.9 x 2.3 x 1.9 x 1 0 Agg. Assault Simple Assault Rape Robbery National Crime Victimization Survey, 2000
Youth Have More Serious Crime Victimization 15.8 10.1 5.7 Youth 5.7 Youth Adult Adult National Crime Victimization Survey, 2001
Rural Youth More Victimized than Urban Adults Youth (12-17) National Crime Victimization Survey, 2001 Adults
Statistical Gaps Crime victimization youth <12, annual Child molestation, victimizations or arrests, annual Child abductions, annual Abuse by teachers, clergy, youth serving orgs Children exposed to domestic violence Bullying, annual Much, much more. 5
Infectious Diseases Designated as Notifiable at the National Level During 2005 Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) Anthrax Botulism Brucellosis Chancroid Chlamydia trachomatis, general infection Cholera Coccidioidomycosis Cryptosporidiosis Cyclosporiasis Diptheria Domestic arbovital diseases, neuroinvasice and non-neuroinvasive California serogroup virus disease Eastern equine encephalitis virus disease Powassan virus disease St. Louis encephalitis virus disease Ehrlichiosis Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) infection EHEC O157:H7 EHEC Shiga toxin-positive, serogroup non-o157 EHEC Shiga toxin-positive, not serogrouped Giardiasis Gonorrhea Haemophilus influenzae, invasive disease Hansen disease (leprosy) Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome Hemolytic uremic syndrome, postdiarrheal Hepatitis A, viral, acute Hepatitis B, viral, acute Hepatitis B, chronic Hepatitis B, virus infection, perinatal Hepatitis C, viral, acute
Infectious Diseases Designated as Notifiable at the National Level During 2005 (cont). Influenza-associated pediatric mortality Streptococcal disease, invasive, group A Legionellosis Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome Listeriosis Streptococcus pneumoniae, invasive disease Lyme disease Syphilis Malaria Tetanus Measles Toxic-shock syndrome (other than streptococcal) Meningococcal disease, invasive Trichinellosis Mumps Tuberculosis Pertussis Tularemia Plague Typhoid fever Poliomyelitis, paralytic Vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus infection Psittacosis (VISA) Q fever Vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection Rabies (VRSA) Rocky Mountain spotted fever Varicella infection Rubella Yellow fever Salmonellosis
JVQ Modules Module A: Conventional Crime Robbery Personal Theft Vandalism Assault with Weapon Assault without Weapon Attempted Assault Kidnapping Bias Attack Module D: Sexual Victimization Sexual Assault by Known Adult Nonspecific Sexual Assault Sexual Assault by Peer Rape: Attempted or Completed Flashing/Sexual Exposure Verbal Sexual Harassment Statutory Rape & Sexual Misconduct Module B: Child Maltreatment Physical Abuse by Caregiver Psychological/Emotional Abuse Neglect Custodial Interference/Family Abduction Module C: Peer & Sibling Victimization Gang or Group Assault Peer or Sibling Assault Nonsexual Genital Assault Peer physical harassment Peer emotional harassment Dating Violence Module E: Witnessing & Indirect Victimization Witness to Domestic Violence Witness to Parent Assault of Sibling Witness to Assault with Weapon Witness to Assault without Weapon Burglary of Family Household Murder of Family Member or Friend Witness to Murder Exposure to Random Shootings, Terrorism or Riots Exposure to War or Ethnic Conflict
Victimization in Last Year Total and Selected Aggregates (Children 0-17, N=4549) 61 46 25 25 6 10
Major Victimization Types by Victim Age Any Victimization Physical Assault Property Victimization Witness Violence Indirect Exposure to Violence Maltreatment Sexual Victimization 3-year running average
Poly-Victims : Number of Past Year Victimizations and Trauma Symptoms Poly-victims NATSCEV PY weighted ANOVA includes sex, age, race/ethnicity, family structure and SES.
Priorities Evaluation of Prevention Strategies Parenting support and education School-based education Improved Epidemiology
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Trends in Children s Exposure to Violence U.S. Official and Survey Data 200.00 180.00 160.00 140.00 120.00 100.00 80.00 60.00 40.00 20.00 Grand Mean (36 indicators) Survey Data Mean (26 indicators) Official Data Mean (10 indicators) 0.00 Sources: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book, NCANDS, National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), School Crime Supplement to the NCVS (SCS), Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), Health Behavior in School-Aged Children Survey (HBSC), Child Trends
Rate per 10,000 Children (<18) Sexual Abuse Substantiation Rates: 1990-2009 61% Decline (1992-2009) 5% Decline (2008-2009) Source: NCANDS
Rate per 10,000 Children (<18) Physical Abuse Substantiation Rates: 1990-2009 55% Decline (1992-2009) 0% Decline (2008-2009) Source: NCANDS
Possible Mechanisms Economic improvement Increased agents of social intervention More effective interventions Psychopharmacology Aggressive policing Changing norms and awareness Technology and surveillance
Finkelhor, D. (2008). Childhood victimization: Violence, Crime, and Abuse in the Lives of Young People. New York: Oxford University Press. Daniel Schneider Child Welfare Book of the Year Award
For more information contact: David Finkelhor david.finkelhor@unh.edu http://www.unh.edu/ccrc 2011 Children s Studies Center, Brooklyn College