51 Indiana children died from abuse during 2003

The Department of Justice maintains statistics on child abuse in Indiana.

• In Indiana, 51 children died of abuse in 2003.

• The primary cause of death in those 51 children was physical abuse/beating (10 deaths) and the second leading cause of death was Shaken Baby Syndrome (eight deaths).

• The total number of substantiated child abuse and neglect cases in state fiscal year 2003 in Indiana was 22,214 - 8,111 abuse cases (3,671 physical abuse and 4,440 sexual abuse) and 14,103 cases of neglect.

• In Indiana, in 68 percent of abuse and neglect cases, a natural parent is the perpetrator.

In Kosciusko County:

• In Kosciusko County in 2001, there was a total of 31 substantiated physical abuse cases, 45 substantiated sexual abuse cases and 91 substantiated neglect cases, for a total number of substantiated neglect and abuse cases of 167.

• In Kosciusko County in 2002, there were 27 substantiated physical abuse cases, 36 substantiated sexual abuse cases and 105 substantiated neglect cases, for a total of 168 substantiated abuse and neglect cases.

Sources: Department of Justice; Indiana Family and Social Services Administration; Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.