Web resource:	http://www.kids.nsw.gov.au/uploads/documents/fatalassault_full.pdf
Type:	Report
Title:	Fatal assault of children and young people
Authors:	Lawrence, Ruth Joung, Wendy Fattore, Toby
Keywords:	Homicide;Child protection
Year:	2002
Publisher:	NSW Commission for Children & Young People, Surry Hills
Notes:	Executive summary may be found at http://www.kids.nsw.gov.au/kids/resources/publications/specialreports.cfm?itemID=7BA2EC3301BB88537FD9E32D25AF60BD. This report continues the previous work undertaken by the Child Death Review Team, (NSW Commission of Children and Young People) and specifically examines the deaths of 60 children and young people aged 0-17 years resulting from fatal assaults occurring between January 1996 to July 1999. Initial chapters provide detail about previous research, terminology and methodology used in the current study. Social and demographic characteristics of the children were analysed with age, gender, cultural and linguistic background, and social disadvantage identified as important factors in determining who is most at risk. Deaths were categorised in terms of fatal non-accidental injury, family breakdown, parents affected by a mental illness and killings of teenagers. Evidence of ongoing severe domestic violence occurred in approximately half the families in the non-accidental injury category (9 of 19, or 47%). Other psycho-social factors including parents’ substance abuse and prior abuse of the child or sibling were positively associated with spousal violence. Contact with human service agencies was varied across the different categories. Children dying as a result of non-accidental injury were often involved with human services as neonates due to concerns about medical health or existing social problems, whereas families within the family breakdown group rarely came to the attention of human service agencies. Questions are raised by the research about the adequacy of child protection casework ensuring the identification of risk and implementation of supports to families experiencing multiple social problems, especially in families where there has been no prior physical abuse of the child. The report urges the NSW Government to examine how child protection, criminal justice and human service systems can be improved in light of the current findings.
URI:	https://anrows.intersearch.com.au/anrowsjspui/handle/1/19436
ISBN:	9780734771032
Physical description:	xiv, 160 p. : ill. ; 30 cm
Appears in Collections:	Reports

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