Child MaltreatmentPub Date : 2025-08-01Epub Date: 2025-01-15DOI: 10.1177/10775595251314173
Margaret C Stevenson, Christian R Picot, Molly A Rivers
{"title":"Adolescence Does Not Divert Sex Offending Adolescents of Color from Criminal Legal System Involvement.","authors":"Margaret C Stevenson, Christian R Picot, Molly A Rivers","doi":"10.1177/10775595251314173","DOIUrl":"10.1177/10775595251314173","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>After the United States Civil War, during Reconstruction, Southern states targeted Black youth and men for incarceration and forced labor, often charging them with rape, spawning the Black male rapist myth. This study explores evidence of a Reconstruction-era ethos in present-day treatment of youth of color accused of sexual assault. Specifically, we examined effects of perpetrator age and race on legal outcomes in 382 alleged child sexual abuse cases. There were 291 adult perpetrators (91% men, <i>M</i> age = 34; 76% White, 20% Black, 2% biracial, 2% Latinx, and 1% Asian) and 91 adolescent perpetrators (96% boys, <i>M</i> age = 14; 73% White, 22% Black, 4% biracial, and 1% Latinx). Supporting hypotheses, adolescent (vs. adult) perpetrators were less frequently arrested or referred for prosecution-but only when they were White. In contrast, for perpetrators of color, being an adolescent (vs. an adult) did not reduce arrest or prosecutorial referral likelihood. Additionally, cases involving adolescents of color (vs. White adolescents) were more immediately criminally investigated. Thus, youthfulness does not proffer protection from criminal legal system involvement for adolescents of color accused of sex offending-evidence of modern and persistent racism rooted in a nation's past.</p>","PeriodicalId":48052,"journal":{"name":"Child Maltreatment","volume":" ","pages":"447-459"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143014185","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Child Protection Responses to Domestic Violence Exposure: Co-Occurring Safety Concerns and Investigation Outcomes.","authors":"Rebecca Rebbe, Bryan Victor, Stephanie Cuccaro-Alamin, Lindsey Palmer","doi":"10.1177/10775595241301085","DOIUrl":"10.1177/10775595241301085","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Childhood exposure to domestic violence (CEDV) poses significant risks to children's safety and wellbeing, yet its prevalence and impact on child protection outcomes remains understudied. This study examined administrative data for child protection investigations in Los Angeles County, California between January 2018 and March 2021 to determine the prevalence of CEDV safety concerns, associated case characteristics, and child protection outcomes (case openings and foster care placements). Results indicated that 5.9% of investigations had CEDV concerns and CEDV investigations represented 17.9% of placements. Investigations with CEDV concerns had higher co-occurring indicated safety concerns than investigations without, including substance abuse (31.1%) and mental health (14.2%). Investigation outcomes for those with CEDV concerns included the substantiation of more than one individual (36.6%), while 28.4% resulted in case openings (without placement) and 30.2% resulted in placements. The study underscores the importance of moving beyond punitive frameworks and exploring the use evidence-based service planning to address the complex needs of families affected by CEDV.</p>","PeriodicalId":48052,"journal":{"name":"Child Maltreatment","volume":" ","pages":"486-498"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12144326/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142629894","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Child MaltreatmentPub Date : 2025-08-01Epub Date: 2025-01-21DOI: 10.1177/10775595251314035
Theodore P Cross, Elizabeth M Cross, Camille Cooper, Daphne Pellegrino, Glen Pounder, Stefan Turkheimer, Simon Bailey
{"title":"Characteristics of Child Sexual Abuse Material in Peer-to-Peer Networks and Predictors of its Severity: Insights From Filenames.","authors":"Theodore P Cross, Elizabeth M Cross, Camille Cooper, Daphne Pellegrino, Glen Pounder, Stefan Turkheimer, Simon Bailey","doi":"10.1177/10775595251314035","DOIUrl":"10.1177/10775595251314035","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Internet has empowered millions of perpetrators who create and consume <i>child sexual abuse material</i> (CSAM), the current term replacing <i>child pornography.</i> In this study, we coded data from a random sample of 2980 filenames from files shared in peer-to-peer (P2P) networks from U.S. IP addresses in 2021. Most filenames referenced girls and just under half referenced children aged 5 to 12. A wide variety of child races, ethnicities and nationalities were referenced. Over half of filenames described a sexually abusive act, most of which referenced penetration. The abuse referenced was more severe when filenames referenced children under the age of 13, both girls and boys, incest, and/or children or youth of color. The findings underline the harm to children from CSAM, suggest the value of a racial justice perspective on CSAM, and support the need to search for CSAM as part of contact child sexual abuse investigations.</p>","PeriodicalId":48052,"journal":{"name":"Child Maltreatment","volume":" ","pages":"473-485"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143014186","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ann M Stacks, Ashley N Rousson, Lyndsey Kondor, Brian E Perron, Joseph P Ryan, Bryan G Victor
{"title":"Infant Toddler Court Teams, Reunification, Time to Permanency, and Placement Stability: Evidence From a Study Using Matched Controls.","authors":"Ann M Stacks, Ashley N Rousson, Lyndsey Kondor, Brian E Perron, Joseph P Ryan, Bryan G Victor","doi":"10.1177/10775595251363456","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10775595251363456","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Children under age three represent a disproportionate share of foster care entries, yet evidence-based interventions for this population remain limited. This study examined the impact of an infant-toddler court program in Wayne County, Michigan comparing outcomes for 60 cases assigned to the specialized docket with 240 matched controls receiving services as usual. Using propensity score matching and Fine-Gray competing risks regression, we found that infant-toddler court cases had double the likelihood of achieving reunification compared to matched controls (subdistribution hazard ratio = 2.04, 95% CI: 1.45-2.88). No significant differences were detected in time to permanency or placement stability. Results were observed in a jurisdiction predominantly serving Black families, with high rates of kinship placement, demonstrating the effectiveness of specialized courts in supporting family preservation in similar settings. Findings suggest that broader implementation of infant-toddler courts could substantially improve reunification outcomes for young children in the child welfare system.</p>","PeriodicalId":48052,"journal":{"name":"Child Maltreatment","volume":" ","pages":"10775595251363456"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144761802","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Public Knowledge and Attitudes About the Nature and Impact of Child Emotional Abuse: A Systematic Review.","authors":"Amy J Morgan, Ellie Tsiamis, Cameron Tan, Qiang Chen","doi":"10.1177/10775595251362111","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10775595251362111","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Child emotional abuse is repeated parental behaviour that conveys to the child they are worthless, unloved, unwanted or only of value in meeting another's needs. It is widespread and associated with mental health harms - including depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide attempts - at levels comparable to those linked to physical and sexual abuse. However, there appears to be a lack of understanding of its impact and the urgency in preventing its occurrence. This systematic review aimed to synthesise findings from peer-reviewed studies published since 2000 that examined public knowledge and attitudes about the emotional abuse of children aged 0-18 perpetrated by parents. Of 39 included studies, only 4 were rated high-quality. Most often, studies examined recognition of child emotional abuse or its acceptability. Few studies investigated willingness to intervene or knowledge about prevalence or its harm to psychological health. Recognition of child emotional abuse varied depending on the type of behaviour and was highest for repeated hostility behaviours. Generally, child emotional abuse was less recognised and perceived as less harmful than sexual or physical abuse. There is a need for more high-quality data on public understanding of child emotional abuse to inform educational strategies for improving its prevention and response.</p>","PeriodicalId":48052,"journal":{"name":"Child Maltreatment","volume":" ","pages":"10775595251362111"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144754897","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Our 30th Volume and a Special Collection of Public Health and Medical Research.","authors":"Vincent J Palusci","doi":"10.1177/10775595251362749","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10775595251362749","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":48052,"journal":{"name":"Child Maltreatment","volume":" ","pages":"10775595251362749"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144692051","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yuerong Liu, Elizabeth Snyder-Fickler, Kelly Evans, Elizabeth J Gifford
{"title":"Child Maltreatment Re-report, Substantiation, and Foster Care Placement: A Latent Class Analysis of Child, Caregiver, and Household Risk Factors Across Screened-In and Screened-Out Cases.","authors":"Yuerong Liu, Elizabeth Snyder-Fickler, Kelly Evans, Elizabeth J Gifford","doi":"10.1177/10775595251361150","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10775595251361150","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Children reported to Child Protective Services (CPS) face elevated risks of adverse outcomes. It is essential to identify vulnerable populations and opportunities for early intervention. This study combined qualitative coding of CPS intake reports with latent class analyses to explore the typologies of children and families based on documented risk factors, both across all CPS intake reports (N = 4,344) and separately for screened-in and screened-out cases. We further examined their associations with maltreatment re-report, substantiation, and foster care placement over a three-year follow-up. Results revealed four latent classes: \"Financial Hardship,\" \"Caregiver Drug Use,\" \"Child Health Issues,\" and \"Domestic Violence,\" with the \"Financial Hardship\" group having the highest risk of experiencing re-reports and foster care placements. We observed variations in risk profiles between screened-in and screened-out reports. Findings highlight the importance of a person-centered approach in identifying high-risk groups and co-occurring risk factors for both screened-in and screened-out reports.</p>","PeriodicalId":48052,"journal":{"name":"Child Maltreatment","volume":" ","pages":"10775595251361150"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144676173","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sarah Dorfman, Amy R Sommer, Adrian J Caiazzo, Yvane Ngassa, Jessica R Gray, Davida M Schiff
{"title":"Creating a Path From Crisis to Care and Connection: Perspectives on Child Removal and Family Separation from Parental Substance Use.","authors":"Sarah Dorfman, Amy R Sommer, Adrian J Caiazzo, Yvane Ngassa, Jessica R Gray, Davida M Schiff","doi":"10.1177/10775595251361477","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/10775595251361477","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Family separation due to parental substance use negatively impacts not only caregivers and children but also family networks, foster parents, and providers who support these families. This qualitative study examined the experiences of birth, kin, and foster parents, and medical, behavioral, and community providers with child removal and custody loss. Twenty-six individuals participated in five focus groups where three themes emerged: (1) insufficient support for families at the time of removal exacerbates the trauma of custody transitions across all groups; (2) the lack of transparency in the child removal process fosters mutual mistrust; and (3) opportunities exist to enhance support for families facing the challenges of child removal. Holistic strategies that minimize trauma and address the needs of families, caregivers, and professionals who interact with the child welfare system are critical to enhancing the well-being of families affected by parental substance use.</p>","PeriodicalId":48052,"journal":{"name":"Child Maltreatment","volume":" ","pages":"10775595251361477"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144660724","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Oliver Berthold, Flora Blangis, Christopher Spencer Greeley
{"title":"From Pachymeningitis Hemorrhagica to Abusive Head Trauma: A Journey Through the Centuries.","authors":"Oliver Berthold, Flora Blangis, Christopher Spencer Greeley","doi":"10.1177/10775595251361930","DOIUrl":"10.1177/10775595251361930","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The development of medical knowledge follows specific principles. These also apply to abusive head trauma. The seminal literature from the early 20<sup>th</sup> century is based on earlier research from Europe, which is fundamental to understand the evolution of understanding and nomenclature of abusive head trauma. A review of original medical literature on intracranial injuries in children, published in German, English, and French, was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar for articles before 1950. The primary search focused on subdural hemorrhages and pachymeningitis in children, followed by a snowball search of references. Full texts of available manuscripts were reviewed. Primary literature as early as 1839 was reviewed by native language speakers, referring to intracranial collections of blood that underwent an evolution in nomenclature and understanding of causation. Initially termed <i>pachymeningitis hemorrhagica</i>, implying an inflammatory cause, the nomenclature evolved to subdural hematoma, as traumatic causes aligned with clinical experience. Advances in diagnostic imaging further enhanced understanding and nomenclature. The clinical findings associated with abusive head trauma have been described for centuries, with consistent signs and symptoms until the present day. As the understanding of the disease evolved due to modern diagnostic techniques, changes in nomenclature became necessary.</p>","PeriodicalId":48052,"journal":{"name":"Child Maltreatment","volume":" ","pages":"10775595251361930"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12495100/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144668741","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Andrew J Ross, Justin Russotti, Dante Cicchetti, Elizabeth D Handley
{"title":"The Effects of Childhood Abuse on Emerging Adulthood Inflammation: Investigating Protective Characteristics.","authors":"Andrew J Ross, Justin Russotti, Dante Cicchetti, Elizabeth D Handley","doi":"10.1177/10775595251358395","DOIUrl":"10.1177/10775595251358395","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Biological embedding of stress is a process commonly observed among individuals with histories of early life adversity. Adverse experiences can get \"under the skin\" and influence the neural and biological characteristics of an individual, impacting a range of health domains including inflammation. This study aimed to identify characteristics that protect individuals against immune health challenges following childhood abuse (e.g., physical, emotional, sexual). Childhood self-regulation and peer likeability were tested as moderators in the effects of abuse on emerging adulthood inflammation. Participants (N = 421) were drawn from a follow-up study of emerging adults with and without maltreatment histories who participated in a research camp program as children. Maltreatment was determined based on CPS record data, self-regulation was informed by camp counselor report, peer likeability was indicated through camp participants' ratings, and adulthood inflammation was identified via salivary C-reactive protein (CRP). Results indicated that childhood abuse did not have a significant main effect on emerging adulthood inflammation. However, among youth who were more behaviorally disinhibited, the experience of abuse was predictive of lower inflammation. Peer likeability did not significantly moderate the association between abuse and inflammation. Results underscore how multifinality in health outcomes following abuse, including resilience, may be shaped by individual characteristics.</p>","PeriodicalId":48052,"journal":{"name":"Child Maltreatment","volume":" ","pages":"10775595251358395"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12411064/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144592690","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"社会学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}