child victims of crime

MITNICK '10MITNICK '10

CHILD VICTIMS OF CHILD VICTIMS OF CRIMECRIME

Mindy F. Mitnick, Ed.M., M.A.Mindy F. Mitnick, Ed.M., M.A.

Licensed PsychologistLicensed Psychologist

5100 Eden Avenue Suite 1225100 Eden Avenue Suite 122

Edina, MN 55436Edina, MN 55436

952-927-5111952-927-5111


DEVELOPMENTAL DEVELOPMENTAL VICTIMIZATION SURVEYVICTIMIZATION SURVEY

Ages 2 to 17Ages 2 to 17 One year incidence estimates of childhood One year incidence estimates of childhood

victimizations:victimizations: Child maltreatmentChild maltreatment Peer & sibling victimizationPeer & sibling victimization Sexual assaultSexual assault Witnessing & indirect victimizationWitnessing & indirect victimization Conventional crimeConventional crime


PHYSICAL ASSAULTSPHYSICAL ASSAULTS

Just more than 50% experienced in the Just more than 50% experienced in the course of a yearcourse of a year

1 in 10 assaulted also injured1 in 10 assaulted also injured Physical assaults higher for elem. gradesPhysical assaults higher for elem. grades Most assaults by family members Most assaults by family members Dating violence > 3% of teens (13-17 y.o.)Dating violence > 3% of teens (13-17 y.o.)


SEXUAL VICTIMIZATIONSEXUAL VICTIMIZATION

1 in 12 were sexually victimized1 in 12 were sexually victimized Rape & attempted rapeRape & attempted rape Sexual harassmentSexual harassment Being flashedBeing flashed Statutory sex offensesStatutory sex offenses

More often to teenagersMore often to teenagers


CHILD MALTREATMENTCHILD MALTREATMENT

A little more than 1 in 7A little more than 1 in 7 Emotional abuse most frequentEmotional abuse most frequent Lower rate for preschoolers (they were not Lower rate for preschoolers (they were not

the informants)the informants)


PROPERTY VICTIMIZATIONPROPERTY VICTIMIZATION

> 1 in 4 experienced robbery, vandalism > 1 in 4 experienced robbery, vandalism and theftand theft

Boys had more experiences than girlsBoys had more experiences than girls Rate lower among preschoolersRate lower among preschoolers


WITNESSED & INDIRECT WITNESSED & INDIRECT VICTIMIZATIONVICTIMIZATION

1 in 3 witnessed the victimization of 1 in 3 witnessed the victimization of someone elsesomeone else Domestic violenceDomestic violence Abuse of a siblingAbuse of a sibling AssaultAssault MurderMurder Riot or warRiot or war


MULTIPLE VICTIMIZATIONSMULTIPLE VICTIMIZATIONS

Average number of experiences for those Average number of experiences for those victimized: 3 different ways in separate victimized: 3 different ways in separate incidentsincidents

31% had only one experience, 2% had > 31% had only one experience, 2% had > 10 incidents10 incidents

97%97% who had any sexual victimization had who had any sexual victimization had additional victimizationsadditional victimizations


MULTIPLE VICTIMIZATIONSMULTIPLE VICTIMIZATIONS

Most associated with:Most associated with: Dating violence w/ injuryDating violence w/ injury Completed or attempted rapeCompleted or attempted rape Being flashed by a peerBeing flashed by a peer Sex assault by strangerSex assault by stranger Bias attackBias attack Witnessing murderWitnessing murder


Exposure to warExposure to war Statutory sex offensesStatutory sex offenses Attempted or completed kidnappingAttempted or completed kidnapping Being flashed by an adultBeing flashed by an adult


ERIKSON’S MODELERIKSON’S MODEL

Biology, psychology & the environmentBiology, psychology & the environment SequentialSequential Critical timesCritical times Building blocksBuilding blocks Psychological strengths Psychological strengths oror Opposite of strengthsOpposite of strengths


IMPACT IS TWO-FOLDIMPACT IS TWO-FOLD

Can derail development from the age of Can derail development from the age of experience(s) forwardexperience(s) forward

Can retroactively undermine already Can retroactively undermine already accomplished tasksaccomplished tasks


TRUST vs. MISTRUSTTRUST vs. MISTRUST(Birth to 1 Year)(Birth to 1 Year)

SecuritySecurity MutualityMutuality Responsiveness of caregiverResponsiveness of caregiver Positive vs. negative caregivingPositive vs. negative caregiving Secure, anxious or avoidant attachmentSecure, anxious or avoidant attachment


TRUST vs. MISTRUSTTRUST vs. MISTRUST

Abuse/violence is first and foremost a Abuse/violence is first and foremost a violation of trustviolation of trust

Victimization teaches the world is not safeVictimization teaches the world is not safe

Victimized children and children who Victimized children and children who witness violence learn mistrustwitness violence learn mistrust


ISSUES IN INTERVENTIONISSUES IN INTERVENTION

Does not trust othersDoes not trust others

May not believe youMay not believe you

Does not expect to be believedDoes not expect to be believed

Suspicious of “helpers”Suspicious of “helpers”


AUTONOMY vs. SHAME & AUTONOMY vs. SHAME & DOUBT (1 TO 3 Years)DOUBT (1 TO 3 Years)

Power, control and willPower, control and will ChoicesChoices Developmental milestonesDevelopmental milestones Oppositionality developsOppositionality develops Exploration is necessaryExploration is necessary


AUTONOMY vs. SHAME & AUTONOMY vs. SHAME & DOUBTDOUBT

Abuse/violence is a violation of the child’s Abuse/violence is a violation of the child’s need for controlneed for control

Victims of crime feel shameVictims of crime feel shame Shame-based children become sneaky, Shame-based children become sneaky,

manipulativemanipulative Victimized children believe they are badVictimized children believe they are bad Victimized children doubt themselvesVictimized children doubt themselves



Feel ashamed and don’t want to talk about Feel ashamed and don’t want to talk about itit

Need to control overwhelmed by “system”Need to control overwhelmed by “system”

Afraid of looking stupidAfraid of looking stupid

May not describe how they “felt”May not describe how they “felt”


INITIATIVE vs. GUILTINITIATIVE vs. GUILT(3 to 6 Years)(3 to 6 Years)

ExplorationExploration

FantasyFantasy

Conscience developmentConscience development

Gender role developmentGender role development


INITIATIVE vs. GUILTINITIATIVE vs. GUILT

Victimization discourages curiosityVictimization discourages curiosity Physical abuse encourages retaliationPhysical abuse encourages retaliation Sexual abuse confuses sex and affection, Sexual abuse confuses sex and affection,

sex and aggressionsex and aggression Secrecy about abuse/witnessing may Secrecy about abuse/witnessing may

over-generalizeover-generalize Guilt may over-generalizeGuilt may over-generalize


Won’t offer informationWon’t offer information

Will feel guilty about breaking secret(s)Will feel guilty about breaking secret(s)

Guilt may lead to recantationGuilt may lead to recantation



INDUSTRY vs. INFERIORITY INDUSTRY vs. INFERIORITY (6 TO 14 Years) (6 TO 14 Years)

Learning, mastery and competenceLearning, mastery and competence

Roles and rules, competition, cooperationRoles and rules, competition, cooperation

Puberty and normal sexual feelingsPuberty and normal sexual feelings


INDUSTRY vs. INFERIORITYINDUSTRY vs. INFERIORITY

Victimized children become guilty bearers Victimized children become guilty bearers of secretof secret

Victimized children blame selvesVictimized children blame selves Victimized children hide injuries – physical Victimized children hide injuries – physical

& emotional& emotional Victimized children feel different, dirtyVictimized children feel different, dirty Victimized children fell isolatedVictimized children fell isolated


INDUSTRY vs. INFERIORITYINDUSTRY vs. INFERIORITY

Coping mechanisms include:Coping mechanisms include: DepressionDepression Learning problemsLearning problems Psychosomatic complaintsPsychosomatic complaints Sexual behavior problemsSexual behavior problems Aggression/passivityAggression/passivity Acting outActing out



May feign not knowing or rememberingMay feign not knowing or remembering Need to feel competent Need to feel competent Need to know not aloneNeed to know not alone Need not to be blamedNeed not to be blamed May recant if threatened or intimidatedMay recant if threatened or intimidated


IDENTITY vs. ROLE CONFUSION IDENTITY vs. ROLE CONFUSION (14-24 Years)(14-24 Years)

Identity formationIdentity formation

IndependenceIndependence

Rebellion/risk takingRebellion/risk taking

Revisit old problemsRevisit old problems


IDENTITY vs. ROLE CONFUSION IDENTITY vs. ROLE CONFUSION (14-24 Years)(14-24 Years)

Premature emancipationPremature emancipation RetaliationRetaliation Self-injurious behaviorSelf-injurious behavior Internalizing painInternalizing pain Sexual problemsSexual problems Problems with authority figuresProblems with authority figures Negative identity formationNegative identity formation



Require patienceRequire patience Need help reporting embarrassing, Need help reporting embarrassing,

disgusting detailsdisgusting details Need not to be talked down toNeed not to be talked down to Need to be kept informedNeed to be kept informed Need to understand own reactionsNeed to understand own reactions


ISSUES W/ “COMPLIANT” ISSUES W/ “COMPLIANT” VICTIMSVICTIMS

Don’t see self as “victim” Don’t see self as “victim” minimize/deny minimize/deny Believe can cope w/ situationBelieve can cope w/ situation Self-blame due to “consent”Self-blame due to “consent” Believe they are “in love”/specialBelieve they are “in love”/special May disclose because relationship ended, May disclose because relationship ended,

not to end relationshipnot to end relationship


EXPECT

DenialDenial MinimizationMinimization Incomplete accountIncomplete account ““I forget”I forget” Claim of consentClaim of consent ExaggerationExaggeration Blaming self, others, not offenderBlaming self, others, not offender Lying Lying


ROADBLOCKS

AssumptionsAssumptions How teen felt and feels nowHow teen felt and feels now Who initiatedWho initiated Why it endedWhy it ended Why child did or did not disclose Why child did or did not disclose Why child makes contradictory statementsWhy child makes contradictory statements How caregiver(s) reactedHow caregiver(s) reacted


WORKING WITH ADOLESCENT VICTIMS

Check yourself for:Check yourself for: AngerAnger MistrustMistrust Feeling pressuredFeeling pressured Blaming the victimBlaming the victim


REMEMBERREMEMBER

Many victims have co-occurring problemsMany victims have co-occurring problems PovertyPoverty Dysfunctional family relationshipsDysfunctional family relationships Absent father/motherAbsent father/mother Mental health issuesMental health issues Poor performance in schoolPoor performance in school Previous abuse/neglectPrevious abuse/neglect


INTERVENTIONSINTERVENTIONS

Social service and mental health Social service and mental health screening should always ask about other screening should always ask about other forms of victimization when one type is forms of victimization when one type is reported or known – within the past year reported or known – within the past year and for the teen’s lifetimeand for the teen’s lifetime

Screening should always look for co-Screening should always look for co-occurring psychological maltreatmentoccurring psychological maltreatment


INTERVENTIONSINTERVENTIONS

Polyvictims should receive mental health Polyvictims should receive mental health assessments with experienced assessments with experienced professionalprofessional


INTERVENTIONINTERVENTION

Prevention efforts for teens should move Prevention efforts for teens should move beyond “Stranger danger” beyond “Stranger danger”

Prevention efforts should focus onPrevention efforts should focus on Statutory relationshipsStatutory relationships Internet victimization Internet victimization Other exploitationOther exploitation



Foensic interviews should be expanded to Foensic interviews should be expanded to include questions about computers, include questions about computers, pornography and the Internet regardless of pornography and the Internet regardless of relationship with suspected/known relationship with suspected/known offender(s)offender(s)

All interviews should not confuse All interviews should not confuse victim/perpetrator dynamicsvictim/perpetrator dynamics



Interviewers should not expect younger Interviewers should not expect younger teens to be able to understand teens to be able to understand consequences of choicesconsequences of choices

Interventions should not “out” teen’s Interventions should not “out” teen’s sexual orientationsexual orientation

Interventions should not be hostile or Interventions should not be hostile or coercivecoercive


FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE IMPACT OF CRIMEIMPACT OF CRIME

TemperamentTemperament Past experiencesPast experiences Interpretation of event(s)Interpretation of event(s) Stage of developmentStage of development Intensity of the eventIntensity of the event Support systemSupport system Problem-solving skillsProblem-solving skills


FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE IMPACT OF CRIMEIMPACT OF CRIME

Others’ responses to eventOthers’ responses to event Extent of exposure to eventExtent of exposure to event Likelihood of recurrenceLikelihood of recurrence Role of the child in the eventRole of the child in the event


REMEMBERREMEMBER

It’s not the event, but how the child It’s not the event, but how the child processes the event, that causes damage.processes the event, that causes damage.

child victims of crime

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