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