Orrin Hatch: “in recognition of April as Nation Child Abuse Prevention Month, I rise to voice my support for the efforts being made by…”

“in recognition of April as Nation Child Abuse Prevention Month, I rise to voice my support for the efforts being made by millions of Americans to defend children against the destructive effects of abuse. Whether the abuse is physical or emotional, the consequences of it on the lives of young people are well documented. Since 1976, the number of reported child victims of abuse has increased from 670,000 to close to 2.7 million in 1991. Estimates indicate that in 1991, four children per day, or a total of nearly 1,400 children, died as a result of abuse or neglect. One reason for this increase may be that more cases are being reported than before, but we also know that there are thousands of other children, especially in situations of sexual abuse, whose problems go unreported and in some cases unnoticed. Other consequences of early childhood abuse and neglect include: poor educational performance, health problems, and generally low levels of achievement. We are all aware of the ``cycle of violence'' in which an abused child often gets trapped. A child caught in this vicious cycle has a much greater chance of committing violent crimes and abusing his or her own children as an adult. A study sponsored by the National Institute of Justice found that being abused or neglected as a child increased the likelihood of arrest as a juvenile by 53 percent, as an adult by 38 percent, and for a violent crime by 38 percent.”