1. Crime Victims: An Introduction to Victimology Sixth Edition
By Andrew Karmen
Chapter Eight:
Children as Victims

2. Children as Victims Maximalist vs. Minimalist Positions
Debate continues with no real statistical data
Maximalist
Overlooked problem reaching epidemic proportions
Wider suffering problem not receiving adequate attention
Must mobilize people to combat growing crisis

3. Children as Victims Minimalist Skeptical of scope and seriousness
Attention and expenditures not warranted
Minimalists’ and Maximalists’ viewpoints are ideologies
Individuals of these categories are considered alarmists or skeptics

4. Missing Children
Inveiglement—detainment through trickery or manipulation
Kidnapping
For Ransom
For Sex
Raise as Child
To Kill

5. Missing Children
See Box 8.1, page 182: Highlights of the Rediscovery of the Missing Children Problem
No real data on “Kidnapping”
Not even a Part 1 Crime under UCR
NCVS does not include crimes against children under age 12

6. Missing Children
1984 National Incidence Study of Missing, Abducted, Runaway and Throwaway (NISMART) established to gather data
See Box 8.2, page 186
Life-Threatening Kidnappings per Year
12,000 Short-Term Abductions by Non-Family Member per Year
56,500 Long-Term Abductions by Family Member per Year

7. Missing Children
NISMART 2 study of over 800,000 cases reported to police:
45% runaways or throwaways
43% misunderstandings and miscommunication between child and parents
8% did not return home due to lost/injured

8. Missing Children National Responses to Problem
“Be On the Look Out” (BOLO)
Code Adam
Amber Alert
Stranger Danger
Family Secret Words
Stockholm Syndrome Challenges

9. Physically and Sexually Abused Children
Battered Child Syndrome—cyclical pattern of excessive force perpetrated by parents who themselves were abused
Neglect—abandoned or failed to provide basic requirements
Physical, Emotional, Educational
Physical Abuse—Physical force to extended confinement
Sexual Abuse—Incest, fondling, sodomy, intercourse, rape and exploitation (pornography and prostitution)

10. Child Abuse Private Survey
60% of 2-parent families experience violence
38% of girls molested
31% of boys sexually molested
1% raped by father or grandfather

11. Child Abuse Maximalist Position
Occurring in enormous numbers—not reported
Under-reporting serious problem
Professionals, teachers, counselors not reporting
Cases reported not followed up on due to lack of resources

12. Child Abuse Minimalist Position
Definition of child abuse expanding—slaps and spanking included
“Abuse” now includes “normal discipline”
Events not increasing—Reporting increasing
Unproven allegations should not be counted
Media has sensationalized occurrences

13. Child Abuse Trends of 70s–90s saw increased events
Ebbed in late 90s and now decreasing
2001: Rates of “very serious violence” dropped from 36/1000 to 19/1000—50% decrease!
Drugs and alcohol are factors contributing to child abuse

14. Child Sex Abuse Continued
SAID Syndrome—”Sexual Allegations in Divorce”
Repressed Memories of Children—False Memory (Pseudomemories) coined by Sigmund Freud
Sex Abuse by Clerics
Satanic Cults

15. Abused Children and Legal Proceedings
Prevention of further abuse in CJ system
Guardian Ad Litem (GAL)—Child Advocate
Two ways to view abusers:
1. View the parental wrong as dysfunctional and in need of help
2. View them as criminals in need of help

16. Children as Witnesses Two Points of View
Pro-prosecution/Pro-victim—Children generally competent on fairly recent events.
Pro-Defendant—Questions trustworthiness as vulnerable to coaching by adults. High pressure techniques can lead to false memory and ultimately lead to false conviction.

17. Children as Witnesses
Wheeler vs. US (1895): children under 14 had to pass competency before testifying
Child Abuse Act of 1990 ruled all children competent unless evidence to contrary
Child Friendly Courtrooms/Practices
1990 US Supreme Court (Maryland vs. Craig) ruled alternatives permissible
Hearsay Rule exceptions, use of dolls, etc.

18. Child Abuse Funnel Model of Criminal Justice System
So many cases are weeded out at various stages, that very few cases where child testifies and parents convicted
Pro-active vs. Re-active Strategies
What is the proper role of Government?
Who do children belong to?
Who is responsible for them?

19. Additional Forms of Exploitation of Children
Sibling Abuse
Abuse of Adolescents by Parents
Statutory Rape of Minors

20. Key Terms Maximalist Minimalist Inveiglement Throwaways Code Adam
Missing Children
Stranger Danger
Code Adam
Amber Alert
Child Lures
Cruelty to Children
House of Refuge Movement
Incidence
Prevalence
Battered Child Syndrome
Unfounded Reports
Child Sexual Abuse
SAID syndrome
Pseudomemories
Guardian ad litem GAL
False memory
Funnel Model