Chapter 7
The Family and Delinquency
Family Influences on
Behavior
Family Conflict and
Broken Homes
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Parental absence is not a per se cause of antisocial behavior.
Children growing up in families disrupted by parental death are better adjusted than children of divorce.
Remarriage did not mitigate the effects of divorce on children.
Continued contact with noncustodial parent has little effect on the child’s well being.
Post divorce conflict between parents is
related to child maladjustment.
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Quality of Parent-Child
Relationships and Delinquency
Child Abuse and Neglect
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Any recent act or failure to act resulting in imminent risk of serious harm, death, or serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse, or exploitation
Of a child (a person under 18 unless a law specifies a younger age)
By a parent or caretaker who is responsible for the child’s welfare.
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Sexual Abuse
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persuasion, inducement, enticement or coercion of any child to engage in, or assist any other person to engage in, any sexually explicit conduct or any simulation of such conduct for the purpose of producing an visual depiction of such conduct.
Rape, and in cases of caretaker or interfamilial relationships, statutory rape, molestation, prostitution, or other forms of sexual exploitation of children, or incest with children.
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Long-term Effects of
Sexual Abuse
Teenage Prostitution
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Estimated 100,000 – 300,000
Approximately 1,500 arrests per year
Most are runaways or throwaways
Have a lack of marketable skills
Constant danger from STD’s and physical violence
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Causes of Child Abuse
and Neglect
Findings from the National Survey of Child Protections Services, 1999
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Highest victimization rates were for the 0-3 age group
Rates for many types of maltreatment were similar for females and males
Sexual abuse rate for female children was higher than for males
Victimization rates by race/ethnicity ranged from a low of 4.4 for Asian/Pacific Islanders per 1,000 children of the same race in the population to 25.2 African-American victims per 1,000
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Findings from the National Survey of Child Protections Services, 1999
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Almost 3/5 of all victims suffered neglect
Slightly over 1/5 suffered from physical abuse
11.3% were sexually abused
More than 1/3 of the victims were reported to be victims of other or additional types of maltreatment
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Who Are the Perpetrators?
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61.8% of perpetrators were female
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female perpetrators were typically younger than male perpetrators
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87.3% of all victims were maltreated by at least one parent
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The most common pattern was abuse by the female parent acting alone
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Female parents were identified as the perpetrators of neglect and physical abuse; male parents were identified as perpetrators more often in sexual abuse cases.
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The Abused Child in Court
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Innovative procedures
to reduce trauma in
the courtroom include:
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Video-taped statements
Closed-circuit television
Use of anatomically correct
dolls
Use of hearsay testimony
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Abuse, Neglect and
Delinquency
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IMMEDIATE EFFECTS
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Physical injury
Malnutrition
Depression
Death
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LONG TERM EFFECTS
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More aggression
Less empathy
Inability to cope with stress
Few positive social interactions
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Early Childhood Intervention Strategies
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Home visits by trained nurses
Home visits by preschool teachers
Family therapy
Parent training
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