Description
Book SynopsisDespite the enormous literature on child abuse, there is little information on situations in which children are killed. Unlike other studies, which may be based on large statistical compilations but do not emphasize the murder of children, or detailed accounts of just a few cases, The Loss of Innocents is the first book to employ an extensive database of materials, allowing a large number of cases to be studied. The Loss of Innocents is a detailed analysis drawn from data in child abuse articles in The New York Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Omaha World Herald, The Louisville Courier-Journal, and The Lexington Herald Leader during the period 1971-1993. From her exhaustive research, Cara Richards gathered details from over 700 cases involving more than 1,000 victims and 990 perpetrators. These cases offered Richards a wealth of information about the circumstances of the crimes, facts about the perpetrators, socioeconomic background of victims'' families, and much more. From this large sample, patterns of dangerous circumstances, and specific types of killers were identified. The thorough analysis presented in The Loss of Innocents goes beyond the facts and suggests new directions for research, intervention, and-most important-prevention. A major goal of this book is to help prevent the killing of children by suggesting ways in which social case workers, judges, police, and others can recognize a situation that is imminently dangerous. The Loss of Innocents looks at clues that can help officials decide when parental rights should be terminated immediately, when a brief separation is enough to remedy an abusive situation, and when a child will be safe despite problems. It is designed to help decision-makers reach judgments about child placement that are more accurate. It may also provide data to evaluate the limitations and utility of confidentiality laws. Further, Richards presents in the final chapter of this book a 16-point list of ways to reduce violence again
Trade ReviewThe Loss of Innocents provides questions and answers for people concerned with all types of child victims and child killers. The material is of value to both citizen advocates and professionals. -- Michael Durfee, MD, Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect, National Center on Child Fatality Review
Cross-culturally, the history of modern society has been dominated by widespread cruelty towards children, the most vulnerable of humankind. But never before has our civilization faced a more dreaded dimension of child victimization: people who kill children. This is the theme of Dr. Richard's book where she has driven the point home with telling effect and scholarly ingenuity. -- Dr. Bankole Thompson, Eastern Kentucky University
Table of ContentsChapter 1 An Overview: Looking at the Numbers Chapter 2 Multiple Killers: Mass Murderers and Serial Killers Chapter 3 Juvenile Killers: Children Out of Control Chapter 4 "Crazy" Killers, Saving Children from Pain Chapter 5 Violent Abuse and Sudden Attacks: Outbursts of Rage Chapter 6 Death after Sustained Abuse: Killing without Remorse Chapter 7 Wrong Place/Wrong Time and Bad Decisions: Unintended Victims Chapter 8 Research Problems and Causal Explanations: A Discussion of Key Factors Chapter 9 Recommendations: Where Do We Go from Here?
