Reports and number of children
In 2008 78,891 New York State children were abused or neglected, according to the NYS Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment (the Child Abuse Reporting Hotline). This represents a victimization rate of 17.9 for every 1,000 children. 163,808 reports of suspected child abuse or neglect, involving 216,267 children were received. Upon investigation, 51,830 (32 percent) reports were substantiated as situations of child abuse and/or neglect. There are more victims than reports because more than one child is involved in some cases. Compared to the prior year, the number of reports increased 5.8 percent, from 154,837; the number of substantiated reports increased 3.5 percent, from 50,093; and the number of victims increased 3.7 percent from 76,104. See NYS Child Protective Services data by county here.

Nationwide, an estimated 772,000 children were victims of abuse and neglect in 2008, a victimization rate of 10.3 for every 1,000 children in the country, according to Child Maltreatment 2008. A child was counted each time he or she was found to be a victim; the adjusted estimate is 690,061 unique child victims. The 2008 victimization rate is the lowest it has been in the previous five years. While this is the second year that the number of victims has decreased, it is not possible to tell whether this year’s decrease indicates a trend until more data are collected. The decrease can partially be attributed to several factors, including the increase in the number of children who received an unsubstantiated disposition, the increase in the number of children who received an alternative CPS response, and the decrease in the number of children who received a substantiated or indicated disposition. Compared to 2007, the number of substantiated victims decreased by 2.8 percent.

States investigated or assessed 3,700,000 children because of suspected abuse or neglect, an increase of 5.7 percent from 2007. The national rate of children who received an investigation or assessment is the highest it has been in the previous five years. Compared to 2007, the number of substantiated victims in 2008 decreased by 14.9 percent.

Types of maltreatment
Child neglect continues to comprise the largest portion of cases of child maltreatment. According to the federal report Child Maltreatment 2008, figures for the country and for New York state are as follows:

"Other types of maltreatment" include, for example, adandonment, threats of harm, or congenital drug addiction.

Fatalities
In New York State in 2008, 107 children died as a result of abuse or neglect, a fatality rate of 2.43 per 100,000 children, according to Child Maltreatment 2008. This is a 11.4 percent increase from 96 fatalities that occurred in 2007.

Nationwide in 2008, an estimated 1,740 children died as a result of abuse or neglect, 2.33 of every 100,000 children in the population. This is a 0.6 percent increase from the 1,730 fatalities that occurred the previous year. Children younger than 1 year old accounted for 45.3 percent of fatalities, and 79.8 percent of fatalities were children younger than 4 years old.

The 2008 Child Abuse Neglect Fact Sheet is also available as a PDF.

Sources of data: New York State Office of Children and Family Services and Child Maltreatment 2008, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children, Youth and Families.

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