NATIONAL
Three quarters of children who are sexually abused do not tell anyone about it and many keep their secret all their lives. Sexual abusers are more likely to be people we know, and could well be people we care about; more than 8 out of 10 children who are sexually abused know their abuser. They are family members or friends, neighbours or babysitters - many hold responsible positions in society. The closer the relationship between the abuser and the victim, the less likely they are to talk about it.
Every year more than 3.6 million referrals are made to child protection agencies involving more than 6.6 million children (a referral can include multiple children).
The United States has one of the worst records among industrialized nations – losing on average between four and seven children every day to child abuse and neglect. A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds. Yearly, referrals to state child protective services involve 6.6 million children, and around 3.2 million of those children are subject to an investigated report. |
MISSISSIPPI
In 2015, Mississippi had 29,770 total referrals for child abuse and neglect. Of those, 24,612 reports were referred for investigation.
In 2015, there were 8,730 victims of abuse or neglect in Mississippi, a rate of 12.0 per 1,000 children, a an increase 3.5% from 2014. Of these children, 75.7% were neglected, 15.7% were physically abused, and 9.9% were sexually abused.
The number of child victims has increased 30.1% in comparison to the number of victims in 2011.
In 2015, there were 35 child deaths resulting from abuse or neglect reported in Mississippi.
4,773 children in Mississippi lived apart from their families in out-of-home care in 2015, compared with 3,597children in 2011. Of the children living apart from their families in 2014, there were 1,691 aged 5 or younger, and639 were 16 or older.
The number of children living apart from their families in out-of-home care has increased 32.7% in comparison to the number of children in out-of-home care in 2011.
In 2015, of children in out-of-home care in Mississippi, 49% were white, 43% were black, 3% were Hispanic, < .5% were American Indian/Alaskan Native, < .5% were Asian or Pacific Islander and 4% were of more than one race or ethnicity/undetermined race or ethnicity.
In 2015, there were 8,730 victims of abuse or neglect in Mississippi, a rate of 12.0 per 1,000 children, a an increase 3.5% from 2014. Of these children, 75.7% were neglected, 15.7% were physically abused, and 9.9% were sexually abused.
The number of child victims has increased 30.1% in comparison to the number of victims in 2011.
In 2015, there were 35 child deaths resulting from abuse or neglect reported in Mississippi.
4,773 children in Mississippi lived apart from their families in out-of-home care in 2015, compared with 3,597children in 2011. Of the children living apart from their families in 2014, there were 1,691 aged 5 or younger, and639 were 16 or older.
The number of children living apart from their families in out-of-home care has increased 32.7% in comparison to the number of children in out-of-home care in 2011.
In 2015, of children in out-of-home care in Mississippi, 49% were white, 43% were black, 3% were Hispanic, < .5% were American Indian/Alaskan Native, < .5% were Asian or Pacific Islander and 4% were of more than one race or ethnicity/undetermined race or ethnicity.