| Over the last few years many studies have been | | | | right questions are not being asked. Interviewers |
| done concerning various forms of child and youth | | | | tend to focus on "conventional crime experiences" |
| victimization. These studies have included; physical | | | | and therefore fail to properly interview victims and |
| and sexual abuse, bullying, sexual harassment, | | | | their families. Another problem with the approach |
| exposure to community violence and the witnessing | | | | used to gather information for these reports is that |
| of domestic violence. What's scary about all these | | | | they fail to identify multiple infractions within the |
| studies is the end result. Rather than discussing all the | | | | same offense. For example, when a child is "Bullied", |
| statistics, which would only confuse you as they did | | | | physical abuse and sexual harassment often occur at |
| me, consider this; only 29% of children had NOT | | | | the same time but only "bullying" is reported. |
| been victimized either directly or indirectly. Let me | | | | Domestic violence is another example. Frequently, |
| repeat that. Only 29% of children had NOT been | | | | violent parents attack multiple family members. When |
| victimized either directly or indirectly. That is an | | | | law enforcement is called out on a domestic violence |
| amazing statistic in itself and based on that there is | | | | disturbance and arrests the 'parent", child abuse is |
| no need to discuss the other numbers. However, the | | | | often overlooked and unreported. Fragmentation in |
| problems may be a lot worse than the published | | | | these studies is made worse when interviewers |
| reports indicate. The guidelines set for the purposes | | | | focus on age groups such as teenagers or, more |
| of these studies tend to overlook certain activities | | | | often, elementary school children. Focusing on a |
| and therefore do not present a clear picture. For | | | | particular age group can result in a misperception that |
| instance; studies on community violence will report on | | | | crime occurs primarily to that group. It is our |
| the overall picture but fail to report individual cases of | | | | responsibility as adults to ensure that are children are |
| child neglect and emotional abuse. Additionally, | | | | properly cared for. If you know or suspect that a |
| "property crimes" against children, such as theft or | | | | child is not being properly treated you should report |
| vandalism, are usually not included in these studies | | | | it. If you have children and depend on babysitters, |
| even though children are affected in high numbers | | | | nannies or even siblings to care for them, get a |
| and are affected emotionally if not physically. | | | | hidden camera or recorder NOW! They are easy to |
| Assaults by brothers and sisters, non-sexual assaults | | | | setup and use and may save your child emotionally if |
| on the genitals (touching), violence on dates and hate | | | | not physically. |
| crimes are often not included in reports because the | | | | |