Who abused and neglected children?
In 2006, nearly 80 percent (79.4%) of perpetrators of child maltreatment were parents, and another 6.7 percent were other relatives of the victim. Women comprised a larger percentage of all perpetrators than men, 57.9 percent compared to 42.1 percent. More than 75 percent (77.5%) of all perpetrators were younger than age 40. • Of the perpetrators who maltreated children, less than 10 percent (7.0%) committed sexual abuse, while 60.4 percent committed neglect. • Of the perpetrators who were parents, more than 90 percent (91.5%) were the biological parent of the victim.
