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Investigations of child abuse/neglect allegations in religious cults: A case study in Vermont
Author(s) -
Malcarne Vanessa L.,
Burchard John D.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
behavioral sciences and the law
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.649
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1099-0798
pISSN - 0735-3936
DOI - 10.1002/bsl.2370100108
Subject(s) - neglect , child abuse , statutory law , cult , criminology , state (computer science) , poison control , suicide prevention , psychology , social psychology , law , political science , medicine , psychiatry , medical emergency , computer science , algorithm
State investigations into allegations of child abuse and/or neglect are made particularly difficult when the adults involved refuse to cooperate with the investigation. Attempts by state agencies to investigate allegations of child abus/neglect made against noncooperative religious cults have proved particularly challenging, since the nature of these groups makes identification of and access to child and adult members problematic. Such cases prove especially difficult when religious beliefs held by cult members justify and even endorse physical discipline of children that many states would define as abusive. An illustration of these problems is provided by an in‐depth description of a recent case in which state officials in Vermont attempted to investigate child abuse allegations against members of a religious cult. Social policy issues are discussed, and suggested statutory revisions are presented.