Predictors of Child Abuse Charges Within the Context of Domestic Violence Arrests

Abstract

This article investigates how different factors of a domestic violence incident impact the likelihood of a child abuse charge within the context of domestic violence arrests. Data from 5,148 domestic violence arrests were used to test whether domestic violence-, incident-, and child-based predictors increased the likelihood of a child abuse charge. Logistic regression models of gender-stratified samples were employed to test for gender differences among domestic violence arrestees. The results demonstrated predictors affected men’s odds of a child abuse charge when compared with women. For men and women, children witnessing the domestic violence incident had the largest impact on a child abuse charge. These results contribute to the underdeveloped area of police response to child abuse in domestic violence cases.

Correlations Among Childhood Abuse and Family Violence, Prevention, Assessment, and Treatment from a Trauma-Focused Perspective

“…While research has focused on causal and highly correlated factors for intimate partner violence, the relationship between family violence and child abuse has been studied more in the last 10-20 years (Anderson et al 2018;Roark et al 2017;Victor et al 2018). Regarding this relationship between family violence and child abuse, marital violence and conflict has been noted as one of the strongest predictors of behavioral issues in children (Afolabi 2015).…”

“…Ultimately, the commission of violent behavior within a family context has been strongly correlated with child abuse in a number of studies (Afolabi 2015;Anderson et al 2018;Jouriles et al 2014;Roark et al 2017;Victor et al 2018). Children are often the target of violent behavior committed by influential adults, caregivers, and parents.…”

Incomplete family as a factor of crime in adolescents and youth

“…Unfortunately, in everyday life there are many examples of incomplete families. This, in turn, cannot but affect the structure and quality of the whole society, this deviation causes many consequences, one of which is the criminalization of youth and adolescents [12]. Since the educational potential of an incomplete family in which there is a teenager is limited pedagogically and psychologically, the child can be influenced by friends, with whom he/she often spends time.…”

“…An analysis of the ratio of female and male persons among juvenile offenders shows that among them predominate males (over 90%) [12], which is due to their different social roles and experiences, psychophysiological characteristics, etc. At the same time, it should be noted that there is a process of criminalization of female representatives: in the criminal behavior of underage girls, the audacity, aggressiveness, cynicism are increased, all of which is manifested, on the one hand, in increasing the intensity of criminal activities of these individuals; on the other hand, in ways of committing crimes.…”

“…The financial situation of an incomplete parental family is always worse than in the full. According to the results of a study of incomplete families, in which minor criminals were brought up, the main reason for the absence of one of the parents is a divorce [4,7,9,10,12]. In such circumstances, they actively oppose the attempts of their mothers or fathers to create a family anew, conflict with their parents about this.…”