Who are the perpetrators of child maltreatment?

• In Event: Developmental and Life Course Perspectives on Early and Late Onset Offending

Abstract

International evidence suggests that child maltreatment is increasing. Most child maltreatment research focuses on the nature, frequency and long-term consequence of childhood victimization. Little research examines the perpetrators of maltreatment and their broader risks and needs. From the limited research we have, it is apparent that there is substantial heterogeneity among child maltreatment perpetrators. Here we assess whether this heterogeneity reflects variation in the developmental risks and related mechanisms that increase the likelihood of maltreatment perpetration.

The Queensland Linkage Project has longitudinal population based data on 4,055 (45% male; 24% Indigenous Australian) individual’s with at least one substantiated incident of child maltreatment perpetration (up to age 31 years). These data will be examined to answers three research questions;

1. What is the profile of a population of Queensland child maltreatment perpetrators?
2. Are there differences in the maltreatment perpetrated by male and female child maltreatment perpetrators?
3. How many child maltreatment perpetrators are recidivists?

We will interpret the findings with in the context of developmental life course theories and their applicability to child maltreatment perpetration. We will also discuss the implications of our findings for targeting developmentally appropriate resources to child maltreatment perpetrators’ based on their risks and needs.

Authors

• Anna Stewart, Griffith University

• Carleen Thompson, Griffith University

• Troy Allard, Griffith University

• Emily Hurren, Griffith University