The
Connection
A common thread linking child welfare systems, the juvenile justice system,
and domestic violence incidents is substance abuse.¹ Alcohol is present
in more than 50% of all incidents of domestic violence. Children whose
parents abuse alcohol and other drugs are three times more likely to be
abused and more than four times more likely to be neglected than children
from non-abusing families.²
The
Costs
A 1998 study estimated that just one year of child abuse and neglect in
Dallas County directly costs the community at least $55 million.³
In
the News
Dallas Morning News–April 2003
Convicted Killer of 5 Testifies in Punishment Phase
Hoping to persuade jurors to sentence him to life in prison rather than
the death penalty, Abel Ochoa testified on his own behalf Tuesday, recounting
a two-year addiction to crack that ended only after his arrest for the
shooting death of his wife, two daughters and two in-laws. Mr. Ochoa
rocked in the witness chair and rarely made eye contact with jurors
as he described abusing crack cocaine and the lengths he went to finance
his habit.
Dallas
Morning News–March 2003
Dallas County jury convicted a Pleasant Grove couple of reckless injury
to a child after it was discovered their son was critically ill due
to malnutrition. The boy’s father previously had been charged with
possession of cocaine, evading arrest, and unlawful carrying of a handgun.
The father testified that the boy’s mother abandoned her kids by
staying out all night, using drugs, and leaving their children unattended.
-
Make A Difference
-
Report cases of suspected child abuse and other family violence to the TX Dept. of Protective & Regulatory Services (800) 252-5400*
Volunteer for agencies that provide family violence shelters and counseling.
Resources
Regional
Organizations
The
Family Place
(214) 941-1991*
Genesis
Women’s Shelter (214) 942-2998*
Violence
Intervention
Prevention Center (214) 590-2926
State
& National Organizations
TX Council
on Family Violence (800)
799-7233 *
National Domestic Violence Hotline (800) 799-7233
*
National Child Abuse Hotline (800) 422-4453 *
National
Council on Child
Abuse & Family Violence
Miscellaneous
Domestic
Violence Screening Test
* phones answered 24 hours
¹ Beyond the Boundaries of Child Welfare: Connecting with Welfare, Juvenile Justice, Family Violence, and Mental Health Systems, The Council of State Governments, Winter 1999
² Child Welfare League of America
³ Child Abuse and Neglect, Dallas Commission on Children & Youth, February 1998
|
1996
|
1997
|
1998
|
1999
|
2000
|
2001
|
|
|
Dallas
|
21,666
|
19,626
|
19,878
|
19,476
|
19,381
|
19,375
|
|
Addison
|
98
|
97
|
102
|
94
|
128
|
150
|
|
B.
Springs
|
346
|
203
|
215
|
144
|
134
|
173
|
|
Carrollton
|
474
|
482
|
434
|
373
|
351
|
365
|
|
Cedar
Hill
|
96
|
118
|
105
|
235
|
220
|
290
|
|
Cock.
Hill
|
58
|
43
|
12
|
11
|
17
|
11
|
|
Coppell
|
95
|
84
|
88
|
85
|
42
|
37
|
|
Desoto
|
259
|
277
|
280
|
302
|
450
|
422
|
|
Duncanville
|
273
|
279
|
241
|
255
|
241
|
226
|
|
F.
Branch
|
238
|
230
|
162
|
169
|
129
|
143
|
|
Garland
|
2,418
|
2,227
|
2,207
|
1,986
|
1,090
|
1,752
|
|
G.
Heights
|
77
|
95
|
93
|
139
|
85
|
76
|
|
G.
Prarie
|
1,499
|
1,473
|
1,322
|
1,145
|
1,311
|
1,327
|
|
High.
Park
|
14
|
25
|
18
|
11
|
22
|
30
|
|
Hutchins
|
25
|
23
|
17
|
19
|
16
|
19
|
|
Irving
|
2,166
|
1,951
|
1,991
|
1,892
|
1,808
|
1,920
|
|
Lancaster
|
244
|
312
|
256
|
306
|
218
|
326
|
|
Mesquite
|
1,202
|
1,048
|
1,011
|
947
|
1,157
|
1,170
|
|
Ovilla
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
5
|
1
|
6
|
15
|
|
Richardson
|
1,347
|
706
|
417
|
395
|
378
|
342
|
|
Rowlett
|
264
|
265
|
299
|
300
|
372
|
342
|
|
Sasche
|
34
|
26
|
32
|
41
|
33
|
32
|
|
Seagoville
|
77
|
84
|
96
|
106
|
101
|
86
|
|
Univ.
Park
|
16
|
17
|
11
|
15
|
10
|
14
|
|
Wilmer
|
44
|
37
|
35
|
36
|
62
|
28
|
|
Other*
|
96
|
120
|
102
|
96
|
139
|
168
|
|
Dallas
Co.
|
33,126
|
29,848
|
29,249
|
28,579
|
27,901
|
28,839
|
Family Violence Incidents - Dallas County
Source: TX Dept. of Public Safety -
Crime in TX Report
* includes Sheriffs, University, and Hospital Police
