Rush to judgment? Child Protective Services And Allegations of Sexual Abuse

摘要

Two hundred and ninety-three randomly selected cases from a child protection service agency in large western New York county were examined to test the hypothesis that sexual abuse allegations are investigated and processed more intensively than cases alleging other types of maltreatment. Contrary to the hy- pothesis, allegations of sexual abuse were substantiated at a lower rate, not in- vestigated more intensively, and not offered more services than were other cases.