Sources of Child Abuse and Neglect Reports in 2000

Three million cases of child abuse are reported annually in the United States. Researchers estimate that this number represents only one third of the abuse that actually takes place. Reports are usually filed by teachers, police officers, or neighbors, but almost never by the victims. In fact, statistics show that less than 1% of all cases are reported by the child that is being abused (as shown in the table below). Tragically, many children slip through the cracks because they are the only ones who know that the abuse is occurring.

Race

Out of all children reported as maltreated in 2000:

• 50.6 percent of victims were White;
• 24.7 percent of victims were African American;
• 14.2 percent of victims were Hispanic;
• 1.6 percent of victims were American Indian-Alaska Native;
• 1.4 percent of victims were Asian-Pacific Islander.

The Estimated Costs of Child Maltreatment to US Taxpayers

Studies have documented the link between abuse and neglect of children and a range of physical, emotional, psychological, and behavioral problems. In addition to the tragic consequences endured by the children who have been maltreated, society pays a high monetary cost for child maltreatment. The costs for child maltreatment include both direct costs (i.e., those associated with the immediate needs of abused and neglected children) and indirect costs (i.e., those associated with the longer term and secondary effects of child maltreatment). Since some maltreatment goes unrecognized and it is difficult to link costs to specific incidents, it is not possible to determine the actual cost of child abuse and neglect. As estimated by Prevent Child Abuse America, the total annual cost of child abuse and neglect in the United States may be as high as $94 billion, as shown below.

Key Sources of Child Abuse and Neglect Statistics

The primary sources of national statistics on child abuse and neglect are two reports sponsored by the Children's Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

Child Maltreatment: Reports from the States to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS). NCANDS collects national information on maltreated children known to state Child Protection Services (CPS). The annual NCANDS report presents national and state level findings on the number and sources of child abuse and neglect reports, investigation dispositions, types of maltreatment, characteristics of children victimized, relationship of perpetrators to victims, and services provided for child maltreatment victims.

National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect (NIS). NIS is designed to estimate the actual number of abused and neglected children nationwide including both cases reported and cases not reported to CPS. NIS bases estimates on information provided by a nationally representative sample of community professionals (e.g., educators, law enforcement personnel, medical professionals, and other service providers) who come into contact with maltreated children.