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Risk Factors and Perpetrators of Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities
The following resources present research on risk factors for fatalities due to child abuse or neglect and characteristics of perpetrators.
Risk factors
Assessing Dangerousness: Violence by Batterers and Child Abusers
Campbell (2007, 2nd ed.)
View Abstract
Uses prediction models to determine if violent behaviors can be predictors for interpersonal violence. Chapters evaluate risk factors for child fatalities and describe instruments that can be used to assess violent behavior.
Children at Increased Risk of Death From Maltreatment and Strategies for Prevention (PDF - 362 KB)
New Zealand Ministry of Social Development (2006)
Reviews factors associated with an increased risk of fatal child maltreatment and challenges in assessing risk. The report also discusses perpetrator characteristics.
Learning From Tragedy: A Survey of Child and Adolescent Restraint Fatalities
Nunno, Holden, & Tollar
Child Abuse and Neglect: The International Journal, 30(12), 2006
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Examines 45 cases in which children and adolescents died during or after physical or mechanical restraint from 1993-2003. The article reviews restraint practices that can lower risk and increase safety.
Predicting Child Fatalities Among Less-Severe CPS Investigations
Graham, Stepura, Baumann, & Kern
Children and Youth Services Review, 32(2), 2010
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Analyzes child fatality cases to identify child and family risk factors and discusses implications for risk assessment, child welfare practices, training, and research.
Risk of Death Among Children Reported for Nonfatal Maltreatment
Jonson-Reid, Chance, & Drake
Child Maltreatment, 12(1), 2007
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Examines data to determine if children who survived child maltreatment are at a higher risk for childhood death than those who have not. Results showed that the risk of death before 18 was twice as likely for children who had experienced maltreatment.
Perpetrators
Child Abuse Fatalities Among Internationally Adopted Children
Miller, Chan, Reece, Tirella, & Pertman
Child Maltreatment, 12(4), 2007
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Discusses the characteristics of the victims and the adoptive families in 18 cases involving the death of an internationally adopted child since 1996.
Child Maltreatment Fatalities: What Do We Know, What Have We Done and Where Do We Go From Here
Douglas
Family and Intimate Partner Violence, 1(2), 2008
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Discusses the following issues related to child fatalities: definition and causes, victim demographics, and characteristics of perpetrators and families. The article also addresses child welfare and legal responses.
Men Who Murder Their Families: What the Research Tells Us (PDF - 827 KB)
Auchter (2010)
Presents discussion points from a forum hosted by the National Institute of Justice addressing the warning signs of men who commit familicide. Topics addressed include poverty, unemployment, family stressors, and the use of weapons.
The Murder of Children by Fathers in the Context of Child Abuse
Cavanagh, Dobash, & Dobash
Child Abuse and Neglect: The International Journal, 31(7), 2007
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Examines the characteristics of fathers who fatally abused their children. Most of the cases examined had children who were under 4 years old and had been previously abused by these men. The results include a description of the perpetrators and conclusions about the findings.
State and local examples
Child Deaths Resulting From Inflicted Injuries: Household Risk Factors and Perpetrator Characteristics (PDF - 101 KB)
Schnitzer & Ewigman
Pediatrics, 116(5), 2005
Presents household risk factors and perpetrator characteristics in child fatalities cases that occurred between 1992 and 1999 in Missouri. The article identifies single-parent homes and living with a non-relative as risk factors.
Looking at Family Court-Involved Domestic Violence and Child Abuse Fatality Cases Through a Lens of Prevention (PDF - 1012 KB)
Sabatino (2008)
Re-examines a study of cases involving both domestic violence and child fatalities in Florida over 5 years. Results showed that families with an active family court case had high-risk indicators including proximity to perpetrator.
Profiles of Child Maltreatment Perpetrators and Risk for Fatal Assault: A Latent Class Analysis
Yampolskaya, Greenbaum, & Berson
Journal of Family Violence, 24(5), 2009
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Examines characteristics of child maltreatment perpetrators in Florida between 1999 and 2002. The study discusses the implications for each of the following child fatality risk factors: biological mothers with health problems, male perpetrators with domestic violence history, and multiple-problem perpetrators.