Serious child mistreatment in Massachusetts: the course of 206 children through the courts

A study was conducted to determine the effects of decisions by the Boston Juvenile Court regarding the care and protection of 206 abused children. Of the 206 respondents who were all below 13 years of age, 63 were ordered to begiven back to their parents for custody. Findings revealed that majority of the children's parents were poor and had psychiatric illnesses. It was also learned that 18 of the children who were returned to their homes were again mistreated by their parents. These results point to an urgent need for the courts to revise parental custody criteria and improve services for abused children.