NCJ Number
177281
Editor(s)
J Hurley
Date Published
1999
Length
206 pages
Annotation
These 23 articles were taken from periodicals, books, journals, government documents, and other sources to present varied opinions regarding child abuse causes, false allegations of child sexual abuse, how the legal system should deal with child molesters, and child abuse prevention.
Abstract
Individual articles argue that child abuse results from the disintegration of family values, that corporal punishment can lead to child abuse, that depression can cause parents to abuse their children, that religion can promote child abuse, and that multiple factors contribute to fatal child abuse. Additional articles argue that the child protection system pursues false allegations of child sexual abuse, that the child protection system should pursue these allegations more actively, that children lie about child sexual abuse, that children do not lie about it, that therapists create memories of abuse, and that most memories of abuse are valid. Further papers argue that child molesters can be rehabilitated, that they cannot be rehabilitated, that they should be castrated, that castration is impractical and immoral, that detaining child molesters indefinitely is just, and that detaining them indefinitely is unjust. Other papers argue for and against community notification laws, parental licensure, and family preservation programs. Figures, illustrations, annotated list of organizations to contact, and bibliographies of books and periodicals