Abuse Statistics
2014 advocacy center statistics
- Using 2004 and 2005 data, Arizona ranks 36 out of the 50 states in overall child well-being. (2007 Kids Count Data Book, The Annie E. Casey Foundation)
- Of the 16,612 reports of alleged maltreatment received October 1, 2006-March 31, 2007, 59% alleged neglect, 34% physical abuse, 6% sexual abuse, and 1% emotional abuse. (Semi-annual Report; Arizona Department of Economic Security; Division of Children, Youth and Families)
- From October 1, 2006-March 31, 2007, there were 3,683 children removed from the home due to allegations of maltreatment. (ibid.)
- On March 31, 2007, there were 9,773 children in out-of-home care in Arizona. (ibid.)
- Maltreated children are at higher risk of arrest, at a younger age, with more significant and repeated criminal involvement. They can be expected to commit nearly twice as many crimes as children raised in a healthier environment. (An Update on the "Cycle of Violence", U.S. Department of Justice, February 2001)
- Children with disabilities are, on average, more than three times more likely to be maltreated than other children. (Congressional Testimony by the American Association of University Affiliated Programs, August 2001)
- In addition to disabilities being a contributing factor to maltreatment, maltreatment causes disabilities in thousands of children each year. (ibid)
- The total annual cost of child abuse and neglect in the United States is over $94 billion. (Prevent Child Abuse America; Suzette Fromm 2001)
The Arizona Child Fatality Review Program,
Fourteenth Annual Report, November 2007 states:
The percentage of all child deaths that were due to maltreatment increased from four percent in 2005 to five percent in 2006. There were 60 maltreatment deaths identified by the teams in 2006 compared to 50 in 2005. In 50 percent of the maltreatment deaths in 2006, drugs and/or alcohol problems were identified, including 19 deaths that were associated with methamphetamines.
Eighty-eight percent of the children who died due to maltreatment were living with their parents at the time of their deaths
For 65 percent of maltreatment deaths, there was no evidence of any reports to Arizona Child Protective Services prior to the fatal maltreatment. In 2006, nine infants died due to Shaken Baby Syndrome. This is the highest number of Shaken Baby Syndrome deaths ever reported by the teams and is three times higher than the number reported in 2005.
Summary of Key Findings
- 39 percent of children’s deaths could have been prevented.
- The percentages of deaths among African American, American Indian, and
- Hispanic children were higher than their proportions of the Arizona population.
- Drugs and/or alcohol contributed to 12 percent of all child deaths in Arizona during 2006 (140 deaths).
- Substance use was a contributing factor in 46 percent of homicides, 35 percent of suicides, and 22 percent of accidental deaths.
- 164 children died in motor vehicle crashes. Of these deaths, 96 percent could have been prevented (157 children). The most common contributing factors were lack of vehicle restraints and excessive driving speeds.
- 48 children committed suicide in Arizona during 2006. Twelve of these children were younger than 15 years old (25 percent).
- 60 children died as a result of firearm-related injuries, compared to 43 firearm-related deaths in 2005.
- 60 children died as the result of maltreatment. Seventy-seven percent of maltreatment deaths were of children younger than six years old (46 children).
Advocacy Centers: Before & After
The following statistics give you an idea of the huge impact an advocacy center can make.
Case Time: 12+ hours to complete a case down to 3-4 hours to complete a case
Time in ER: 8-10 hours down to 1-2 hours in the ER
Advocate Availability: Instead of offsite referrals an Advocate is now immediately available
Conviction Rate: 42% conviction rate up to 64% conviction rate
Turndown Rate: 50% case turndown rate now down to 7% turndown rate
Multiple Interviews: 91% multiple interviews now down to 8% multiple interviews
Sex Offenders Tracked: 11% sex offenders tracked up to 90% sex offenders tracked