Fourth National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect (NIS–4)

CPS investigated more than one-half the children who were sexually abusedunder the Harm Standard in the NIS–4, which reflects a marginal increase since the NIS–3 in the investigation rate for this category (55% vs. 42%). This latest rate is notstatistically different from the NIS–2 level (72%), largely because of the wide margin oferror on that earlier estimate.CPS investigation of emotionally abused children significantly increasedsince the NIS–3, from 21% to 36%. The new rate does not differ from the NIS–2investigation rate for emotional abuse.Two statistically meaningful changes occurred in CPS investigation of HarmStandard neglect, depicted in Figure 8–4. CPS investigated children with Harm Standardemotional neglect at a significantly higher rate in the NIS–4 (30%) than in the NIS–3(18%). Here, too, the NIS–4 investigation rate for emotional neglect does not differ fromthe NIS–2 rate.Figure 8–4.Changes in Investigation Rates for Harm Standard NeglectAcross NIS CyclesAlthough the CPS investigation rate for educational neglect showedessentially no change since the NIS–3, the NIS–4 rate of 9% remains marginally belowthe NIS–2 level, when CPS investigated 15% of educationally neglected children.8–8