Report Child Abuse

How many Washington children are impacted each year?

The Child Welfare League of America estimates that there were 73,532 reports of child abuse in Washington State in 2004. Of those, 32,314 were investigated and 6,730 were substantiated. This represented an 11.8% increase over 2003.

Of substantiated cases, 80.1% were neglect, 18.9% were physical abuse, and 6.9% were sexual abuse.

It is believed that the number of sexual abuse cases is much larger than that reported to Child Protective Services. Darkness to Light, a national sexual abuse prevention organization, has compiled these statistics:

• 1 in 4 girls is sexually abused before the age of 18.
• 1 in 6 boys is sexually abused before the age of 18.
• 1 in 5 children are solicited sexually while on the internet.
• Nearly 70% of all reported sexual assaults (including assaults on adults) occur to children ages 17 and under.
• An estimated 39 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse exist in America today.

Types of Child Abuse and Neglect

In Washington State, RCW 26-44-020 (1) defines abuse and neglect as injury, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, negligent treatment or maltreatment of a child by any person under circumstances which indicate that the child's health, welfare, and safety is harmed. Physical discipline of a child is not considered abuse as long as it is reasonable and moderate as defined in RCW 9A.16.100. Neglect is further defined in RCW 26-44-020 (13).

Physical injury

A physically abused child is one who has sustained non-accidental physical injury or injuries such as: bruises, burns, fractures, bites, internal injuries, auditory, dental, ocular or brain damage, etc. Injuries sustained may be permanent or temporary.

Mental injury

A child who has been injured mentally is one who sustains damage to intellectual, psychological, emotional or psychological functioning which is clearly attributable to the non-accidental acts or omissions of the parent or guardian. Examples of a parental or caretaker behaviors include a pattern of rejecting, isolating, ignoring, corrupting or terrorizing a child.

Sexual abuse

There is a wide range of offenses defined in the Washington state criminal code involving children that constitute sexual abuse such as: indecent liberties, communication with a minor for immoral purposes, sexual exploitation of a minor, child molestation, sexual misconduct with a minor, rape of a child and rape.

Neglect

Negligent treatment or maltreatment (a dangerous act) is that which constitutes a clear and present danger to the child’s health, welfare, and safety such as:

• Failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, emotional nurturing or health care;
• Failure to provide adequate supervision in relation to a child’s level of development;
• An act of abandonment;
• An act of exploitation;
• An act of reckless endangerment;
• Other dangerous acts such as hitting, kicking, throwing, choking a child or shaking an infant.