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

Just as in the Harm Standard, the investigation rate for abused children ishigher than the rate for neglected children, but the difference (49% versus 41%) is not asdramatic. The rates of investigation in all categories of Endangerment Standard abuse aresimilar to the corresponding categories in the Harm Standard (cf. Figure 8–2). However,the investigation rates for Endangerment Standard neglect are notably higher than thosefor Harm Standard neglect in all categories except educational neglect (which followsidentical definitions under the Harm and Endangerment standards). Under both standards,the educationally neglected children are the least likely to receive CPS investigation oftheir maltreatment (9%).Also similar to the Harm Standard pattern, CPS investigated less than onethirdof the children who experienced serious harm (31%) or moderate harm (29%) due totheir maltreatment. CPS investigated 53% of the children whose harm could be inferredbased on the severity of their Endangerment Standard maltreatment. Sixty percent of thechildren, who were endangered, but not yet harmed, received a CPS investigation.Changes since the NIS–2 and the NIS–3 in Rates of CPS Investigation ofEndangerment Standard Maltreatment.Figure 8–10 displays the statistically reliable changes in CPS investigationrates for Endangerment Standard abuse. Nearly one-half (49%) of the children countableas abused under the Endangerment Standard had their maltreatment investigated by CPSin the NIS–4, a marginal increase from the 39% investigation rate of abused children inthe NIS–3. However, this NIS–4 rate remains significantly below the investigation ratefor this category during the NIS–2, when CPS investigated 63% of children withEndangerment Standard abuse.Within specific categories of Endangerment Standard abuse, the onlysignificant change in investigation rates occurred for emotionally abused children. CPSinvestigations of emotional abuse significantly increased from 28% in the NIS–3 to 40%in the NIS–4. This new rate does not differ statistically from the NIS–2 rate of 51%.8–16