Correlates of joint child protection and police child sexual abuse investigations: results from the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect–2008

Abstract

Introduction: Our study examines the frequency of joint investigations by child protection workers and the police in sexual abuse investigations compared to other maltreatment types and the association of child-, caregiver-, maltreatment-and investigation-related characteristics in joint investigations, focussing specifically on investigations involving sexual abuse.

A review of recent analyses of the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS)

“…Police involvement in investigation 31 Opening for ongoing services 16 Opening for ongoing services 15 Opening for ongoing services 19 Opening for ongoing services 26 Opening for ongoing services [8][9][10][11]38 Opening for ongoing services [12][13][14][15]38 Opening for ongoing services 22 Retained Learning/developmental issues 20 Physical disability/health condition 20 Emotional/behavioural disorders 20 Internalizing disorders 6 Externalizing disorders 6 Presence of harm 6 Child functional impairment 8 …”

Case Study of a Child and Youth Advocacy Centre (CYAC) in a Canadian City

“…Additionally, in Canada, Tonmyr & Gonzalez (2015) were concerned by the limited research on the characteristics of joint investigations and researched the frequency of joint investigations by child protection services and the police in sexual abuse cases compared to other cases of maltreatment using data from the 2008 Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect. They found that 55% of child sexual abuse investigations had a joint investigation and when compared to cases of intimate partner violence (IPV): cases of physical abuse were 4.5 times more likely and cases of sexual abuse were 21 times more likely to involve police.…”

“…For example, the factors that are most likely to be present when a case is brought forward for prosecution has been heavily researched (Hartley, Mullings & Marquart, 2013). It has been found that the age of the child (7+), offender characteristics (male, unknown or non-familial) as well as the type of offence (frequent, severe sexual abuse), are more likely to be brought forward to be prosecuted (Hartley et al, 2013;Tonmyr & Gonzalez, 2015).…”

“…The lack of communication between law enforcement and CPS sometimes meant that families were not referred to additional services in a timely manner, or at all (see Beatrice, 1990;Cross, Finkelhor & Ormrod, 2005;Garret, 2004;Horwath & Morrison, 2007;Newman & Dannenfelser, 2005;Stanley et al, 2011). Today, law enforcement and CPS are still both mandated to protect children from harm (Tonmyr & Gonzalez, 2015). Since the 1990s the Canadian Child Advocacy Centre (CAC) model -based on the American Children's Advocacy Center model -started to develop in Canada.…”