Characteristics of child maltreatment victims, 2010

Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Working for Youth Justice and Safety

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Child Maltreatment

Q:	What is known about substantiated or indicated child maltreatment?
A:	In 2010, child protective services investigated nearly 2 million reports of maltreatment involving more than 3.6 million children- 19.5% of these reports were substantiated.

Estimated number of victims	754,000

Victimization rate*	10.0

Age
0 to 3	34%
4 to 7	23%
8 to 11	19%
12 to 15	17%
16 to 17	6%

Gender
Male	49%
Female	51%

Race/ethnicity
White	45%
Black	22%
Hispanic	21%
American Indian/Alaskan Native	1%
Asian/Pacific Islander	1%
Multiple race	4%
Unknown/missing	6%

Maltreatment type**
Neglect	62%
Physical abuse	14%
Sexual abuse	7%
Psychological maltreatment	6%
Medical neglect	2%
Other abuse	8%
Unknown/missing	<1%

Notes: *Rate is per 1,000 children under 18 in the U.S. population. **The victimization count and rate are based on the number of maltreatments (each time a child was found to be a victim). Percentages are based on the unique count of child victims and should not be compared to years prior to 2009. This table is based on sample data reported by a varying number of states. Age and sex data were reported by 49 states, D.C., & Puerto Rico; data on multiple race was reported by 45 states, data was reported in 44 states & D.C. for AI/AN, while 48 states & D.C. reported data on whites, blacks, Asians, and Hispanics; data on maltreatment type were reported by as few as four states (unknown type) to as many as 49 states, D.C., & Puerto Rico (psychological and sexual abuse, and neglect).

[ Excel file ]

More than one-third maltreatment victims in 2010 were infants or toddlers ages 0–3.
Females made up just over half (51%) of all maltreatment victims in 2010.
Nearly half of all victims were white (45%), more than one-fifth were black (22%) and similar proportion (21%) were Hispanic.
Neglect (62%) was the most common form of maltreament in 2010.
An estimated 1,560 children died as the result of maltreatment.

Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: http://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/victims/qa02102.asp?qaDate=2010. Released on March 05, 2012.

Data Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth, and Families. Child Maltreatment 2010. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 2011.