Reducing Crime by Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect: Home visiting cuts abuse and neglect in Washington

SUMMARY: Over 6,700 Washington children were victims of abuse or neglect in 2008, over 125 per week, and 23 Washington children died from that abuse or neglect. The true numbers are almost certainly much higher due primarily to underreporting. The other major reasonwhy law enforcement leaders want to see abuse and neglect prevented before it starts is that abuse and neglect contributes to future crime. While most of the victimized children who survive never become violent criminals, research shows that an estimated 250 victims of abuse and neglect in Washington in 2008 will become violent criminals as adults who otherwise would have avoided such crimes if not for the abuse and neglect they endured as children.

Home visiting can cut abuse and neglect and reduce future crime. Research on the Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP) voluntary home visiting program demonstrated that it worked. Abuse and neglect was cut in half, and the children not in the program, compared to those served, were more than twiceas likely to be convicted of a crime by the time they were 19 years old. Home visiting can save far more than it costs in large part because it so effectively cuts abuse and neglect and future crime.

State and federal funding for home visiting is a critical crime prevention strategy. As law enforcement leaders, we urge state lawmakers to direct federal and state funding to maintain and expand existing home visiting programs even in these uncertain financial times. Preserving existing state efforts is essential to ensure that Washington can take advantage of new federal funding for proven home visiting programs. Home visiting reduces the abuse and neglect of Washington children now and cuts future crime. Washington must, at a minimum, continue its state funding for home visiting, and take advantage of new federal funding as well.