Child Abuse Statistics

D. Corwin (1990) cites that in London many believedare survivors of sexual child abuse. Goldstein-Harte
that sexual 'congress' with a child would cure venerealStudy 1973: Carter, et al.
disease. Of capital rape prosecutions between 1730A sexual child abuse perpetrator (a.k.a. sex offender)
and 1729, 25% of the cases involved victims youngerabuses an average of 117 children. National Institute
than 10 years old.of Mental Health, 1988.
62% of females are sexually abused by age 18.Extensive evidence substantiates the fact that sexual
Finkelhor, David and J. Dziuba-Leatherman.child abuse has taken place for centuries.
"Victimization of Children." American Psychologist Vol.In the U.S. in 2000 over 3 million child abuse and
49:3 (1992): 173-183. 1896 in The Aetiology ofneglect reports were filed and one million were
Hysteria, Freud discusses his "Seduction Theory"confirmed. There are 3,000 children abused each day
acknowledging the sexual abuse and incest ofand four of them will die. Forty % of these children
children.were under the age of six. The age group with the
31% of males are sexually abused by age 18. Ibid.highest abuse rate is 0-3 years. Nationally the highest
More than 60 million adult survivors of incest andform of abuse is neglect followed by physical abuse.
sexual child abuse live in America. *Note these areIn March of 2001 when President Bush declared April
only reported cases. It is believed as great as 50%National Child Abuse Prevention Month he stated the
of sexual child abuse is unreported. Forward, 1993cost of child abuse and neglect in the U.S. was $258
99% of sexual abuse survivors know theirmillion dollars a day. This includes the price of
perpetrators-80% are abused by family members,intervention, the treatment of children who have
19% are abuse by other trusted adults. CCPA, 1992been emotionally, physically or sexually abused as well
Of 50 male sexual abuse survivors, many were asas the indirect costs of the long term consequences
young as 8 years old. FBI Uniform Crime Report,both for the child and our society. Prevent Child
1991.Abuse America. In 2000, there were 261,000 victims
96% of female rape survivors were younger than 12of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault. [2000
years old and knew their attackers. U.S. DepartmentNational Crime Victimization Survey. Bureau of Justice
of Justice, 1992.Statistics.] Of these 261,000, 114,000 were victims of
A study of 10,000 female children under age 18sexual assault, 55,000 were victims of attempted
raped in 1992, reports that 3,800 girls were under 12rape, and 92,000 were victims of completed rape.
years old. U.S. Justice Department, study conducted[2000 NCVS.]
in 11 states and the District of Columbia, June 1994.An estimated 906,000 children were victims of abuse
Of teenage, unwed mothers, 60-67% were incestand neglect in 2003 (cases substantiated by child
survivors. Los Angeles Times survey, 1993protective service agencies).1
96% of teenage prostitutes were sexually molestedIn 2003, 48.3 percent of child victims were male; 51.7
in childhood. CCPA, 1992. Almost 80% had becomepercent of victims were female. 83.9 percent of
prostitutes before age 18. Ibid. *60% of prostitutesvictims were abused by a parent. 40.8% of child
were 16 or under; many were younger than 13. Ibid.victims were maltreated by their mothers acting
Over 80% of the mothers of incest survivors werealone; another 18.8 percent were maltreated by their
also sexually abused.fathers acting alone; 16.9 percent were abused by
57% of sexual child abuse and incest perpetratorsboth parents.