Domestic Violence involved in many Child Abuse Cases in Texas
By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2015
Domestic violence is a threat to not only adults as many children are affected by it in their family home or personally according to 2014 statistics released by the Texas Department of Family Protective Services (TDFPS), including Maverick County.
According to the 2014 Texas Department of Family Protective Services (TDFPS) Annual Report, one-third (33%) of all child protective services cases reported to TDFPS involved domestic violence issues. Specifically, 57,624 of the 168,164 investigations completed by TDFPS during 2014 were identified as having domestic violence within the home where an investigation for child abuse took place.
The 2014 TDFPS Report also shows that from 2011 through 2014, there were 670,036 completed investigations of child abuse in Texas conducted by TDFPS and of these investigations, there were a total of 222,172 (33%) investigated cases that signaled involvement of family domestic violence issues.
During 2014, there were 168,164 child protective services completed investigations by TDFPS and 29,440 (17.5%) of these investigations warranted further action or intervention from TDFPS due to confirmed risks indicated during the investigation.
In 2014, TDFPS conducted a total of 19,873 investigations in Texas Region 8, which includes Maverick County, and there were 8,012 (40%) confirmed cases of some form of child abuse warranting further action from the TDFPS.
Although an exact number of child abuse cases in Maverick County is not specifically provided in the 2014 TDFPS annual report, a breakdown graph by county shows that there were at least 200 cases reported and/or confirmed in Maverick County.
Texas Region3 had the most cases investigated with a total of 42,229 in 2014 of which 18,318 (43%) confirmed investigative cases of child abuse.
Among the confirmed child abuse cases and allegations in Texas during 2014, the study reports that 11,514 cases were identified as physical abuse, another 5,563 cases were for sexual abuse, 431 cases of emotional abuse, 179 cases of abandonment, 1,699 medical neglect cases, 4,857 cases were for physical neglect, 590 cases were for failure to accept parental responsibility, and another 51,197 cases were for negligent supervision.
In 2014, Region 8, which includes Maverick County, had 1,157 cases confirmed of physical abuse, 613 were for sexual abuse, 44 for emotional abuse, 19 for abandonment cases, 204 medical neglect, 554 were for physical neglect, 56 refusals to accept parental responsibility, and 6,271 neglectful supervision.
The City of Eagle Pass Police Department had at least 12 child abuse cases reported during the past seven months from December 2014 through June 2015. During March 2015 there were no child abuse cases reported to the Eagle Pass Police Department. However, these statistics do not reflect an exact number of child abuse cases actually reported to the Eagle Pass Police Department as many child abuse and/or domestic violence cases go unreported.
During the month of June 2015, there were two injury to a child cases reported to the Eagle Pass Police Department and one child abuse case. In May 2015, the Eagle Pass Police Department had one indecency with a child case reported while in April 2015 there was another one indecency with a child case reported. In February 2015, there were two injuries to a child cases reported while in January 2015, there two child abuse cases reported and during December2014 there were three indecencies with a child cases reported to the Eagle Pass Police Department.
Statistical numbers of child abuse cases reported to the Maverick County Sheriff’s Department are not available as of press time.
Hispanic children are more susceptible of being victims in a child abuse case as there were 29,266 cases confirmed throughout Texas involving Hispanic children compared to a total of 21,978 confirmed child abuse cases involving Anglo children in Texas during 2014.
Children between the ages of 1 to 3 years old are the largest percentile of victims of child abuse with 15,119 confirmed child abuse cases, neglect cases followed for children from 4 to 6 years old with 13,770, children under one year old had 10,647 cases, and children between 7-9 years old had 10,533, children between 13-17 years old had 8,774, and children between 10 -12 years old had 7,708 cases during 2014.
The 2014 TDFPS Annual Report documents the rising problem of child abuse and domestic violence cases in Texas with Hispanic children having a larger possibility of being involved in a child abuse case than their Anglo and African American peers.
The recent shooting of six children in Houston, Texas by an estranged former boyfriend highlights the serious problem facing Texas children concerning child abuse and domestic violence cases. Children who are victims of child abuse and domestic violence in Texas are innocent and voiceless. Children need representation and advocates who will protect them from being hurt or killed when adults engage in domestic violence cases.
During 2011 through 2014, there were 977 child abuse/neglect related fatalities in Texas.
Texas Region 3 had a total of 37 child abuse/neglect related fatalities in 2014 followed by Region 8 which reported 17 fatalities.
If you know of a child or adult person who may be victims of child abuse and domestic violence, please call the Texas Department of Family Protective Services in Eagle Pass at (830) 757-0070 or visit their offices at 1593 South Veterans Boulevard, the Eagle Pass Police Department at (830) 773-9044, or the Maverick County Sheriff’s Department at (830) 773-2321.
