The study examined factors which influence custody change in cases of children who have been sexually abused in 180 cases of children hospitalized with a suspicion of having been sexually abused. Of the children with proven abuse (N=138), ultimately 40 percent had a custody change. (DB)

Of 206 cases of serious child mistreatment brought before a metropolitan juvenile court on Care and Protection Petitions, 63 were dismissed. During a 2-year follow-up period, 18 of these dismissed cases had substantiated reports of further mistreatment and 10 subsequently returned to court. Six percent of those children ordered removed from…

The progress of 206 severely abused or neglected children through the Boston (Massachusetts) court system was examined. Overall, children were in the system an average of 5 years before resolution with about 1.5 years following arraignment in juvenile court. No meaningful pattern was found which could predict delays. (Author/DB)

Randomly selected juvenile court records (n=190) of cases of child maltreatment found that 67 percent involved parents who were substance abusers. Specific associations were found between (1) alcohol abuse and physical maltreatment, and (2) cocaine abuse and sexual maltreatment. (Author/DB)