Citation

Park J. J. Forensic Sci. 2020; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Sookmyung Women's University, 100 Chungpa-ro, 47 Gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Korea.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2020, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/1556-4029.14270

PMID

31923337

Abstract

Data on 552 child maltreatment cases in South Korea involving convictions, including child physical abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect, were analyzed in order to compare 259 offenses committed by male offenders with 293 offenses committed by female offenders. Relative to cases involving female offenders, male offenders both had a higher number of criminal convictions and were more likely to have previously abused their victims. By contrast, female offenders were more likely to have had financial difficulties, while their victims were significantly younger compared to male offenders. Male offenders were more likely to strike the victim, either manually or with an instrument, particularly a blunt instrument, whereas female offenders were more likely to pinch or bite their victims. The findings can aid social workers and medical personnel in recognizing the signs of child maltreatment and identifying at-risk children more effectively, helping to employ timely interventions and prevent the reoccurrence of child maltreatment.

© 2020 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Language: en

Keywords

child maltreatment; child physical abuse; emotional abuse; forensic science; neglect; offender gender