NCJ Number
145381
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 2 Issue: 2 Dated: (1993) Pages: 103-108
Date Published
1993
Length
6 pages
Annotation
The law enforcement officer who authored this article is a member of an interdisciplinary team that works on child sexual abuse cases. He can find no rationale in the importance some professionals place on the preservation or reunification of a birth family, even when a child in that family has been physically or sexually abused.
Abstract
There are innumerable studies showing that a family environment which condones child abuse is not conducive to raising healthy children. Research on survivors and victims shows that even "minor" abuse can leave long-lasting scars. In many cases, defendants' attorneys try to design treatment plans for the benefit of the intrafamilial offender with little or no regard for the welfare of the child victim. While there is no longitudinal research on what happens in reunified families, there is evidence that incest offenders have long- established sexual preferences for children and may not benefit from treatment. On the other hand, policymakers and professionals need to realize that out-of-home placement can cause trauma to the child and further burdens the foster care system in the U.S. This author concludes that policies should replace the goals of family reunification and preservation with those of child protection and advocacy. 3 references