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

Table 8–2 shows the actual and presumptive CPS investigation rates forchildren with Endangerment Standard maltreatment. As presented for the Harm Standardfindings (Table 8–1), the first column shows the percentages of children CPS actuallyinvestigated, while the second column shows the percentages of uninvestigated childrenwho, based on agencies’ screening policies, CPS probably would have investigated ifanyone had reported the children’s maltreatment to CPS. The third column is the sum ofthe first two columns, indicating the presumptive investigated rate, and the last columngives the percentage of remaining children.Table 8–2. Rates of CPS Investigation of Endangerment Standard Maltreatment,Actual and Presumptive (based on CPS Screening Standards)Endangerment StandardMaltreatment CategoryALLMALTREATMENTABUSE:AObservedInvestigationRateBInferred %CPS WouldHaveInvestigated(A + B)PresumptiveInvestigationRateCRemainingChildren43% 37% 80% 20%All Abuse 49% 38% 87% 13%Physical Abuse 52% 36% 88% 12%Sexual Abuse 56% 36% 92% 8%Emotional Abuse 40% 42% 82% 18%NEGLECT:All Neglect 41% 39% 80% 20%Physical Neglect 41% 41% 82% 18%Emotional Neglect 50% 37% 87% 13%EducationalNeglectNotes: A + B + C = 100%9% 54% 63% 37%The remaining children (Column C) include children who did not reside in a NIS–4 county, children whomCPS probably would have screened out or referred to an alternative response track, and children whosecases and/or corresponding CPS screening criteria were unclear.8–32