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

columns, providing the presumptive investigation rate, if all countable children werereported to CPS. The last column shows the percentage of children in the category thatremain; these were not investigated. They include children CPS would have screened outfrom investigation, children the SPS coders could not evaluate because they did notreside within the jurisdiction of a NIS–4 CPS agency, and children whose classificationaccording to the CPS screening criteria was unclear.Table 8–1.Rates of CPS Investigation of Harm Standard Maltreatment, Actual andPresumptive (based on CPS Screening Standards)Harm StandardMaltreatment CategoryALLMALTREATMENTABUSE:AObservedInvestigationRateBInferred %CPS WouldHaveInvestigated(A + B)PresumptiveInvestigationRateCRemainingChildren32% 49% 81% 19%All Abuse 50% 39% 89% 11%Physical Abuse 53% 36% 90% 11%Sexual Abuse 55% 36% 92% 9%Emotional Abuse 36% 48% 84% 16%NEGLECT:All Neglect 20% 55% 75% 25%Physical Neglect 27% 58% 85% 15%Emotional Neglect 30% 59% 89% 11%EducationalNeglectNotes: Columns A + B + C = 100%.9% 54% 63% 37%The remaining children include children who did not reside in a NIS–4 county, children CPSprobably would have screened out or referred to an alternative response track, and children whoseclassification according to the CPS screening criteria was unclear.those in the category who were not investigated, whereas Table 8–1, Column B, provides the percentagesthese children represent among the total of children in the category (i.e., including those who actuallyreceived a CPS investigation).8–28