Children Who Harmed Other Child (CHOC): A Descriptive Analysis of Cases Identified through the Child Protection System

Background and Purpose: Cases where one child harms other child in a household (CHOC) present unique challenge for families and child welfare systems. Despite their complexity, definitions, reporting policies, and service responsibilities for these situations remain unclear. Families may separate children to protect victims, potentially exposing the CHOC to homelessness, justice system involvement, and educational disruption. This study examines state variations in how definitions of responsible person for child maltreatment and identification of CHOC cases within child protection system (CPS). We compare CHOC reports with non-CHOC reports to identify demographic and household factors associated with these incidents, while also characterizing CHOC and how they differ from adult perpetrators.

Methods: This study used the National Child Abuse and Neglect System (NCANDS) data from FY 2018-2019 across all U.S. states, focusing on substantiated reports with identified perpetrators. State statues were coded to determine whether minors could be classified as “responsible persons” in child maltreatment cases, categorizing each state as “Yes” (explicitly includes minors), “Not Specified” (ambiguous language), or “No” (restricted to adults). Variables were coded at both report and individual levels. Report-level variables captured household characteristics including race/ethnicity, family composition, report source, and CPS responses. Individual-level variables documented perpetrator characteristics including gender, age, relationship to victim, and maltreatment type. The analysis examined: (1) how statutory definitions aligned with CHOC reporting rates, (2) differences between cases with and without CHOC, (3) how CHOC differed from adult perpetrators, and (4) differences in CHOC reports with and without sexual abuse allegations.

Results: Of 885,015 substantiated reports, 2.4% (N = 20,841) involved CHOC, with rates varying widely across states (0.2%-9.7%) in alignment with statutory definitions. Reports involving CHOC differed significantly from other reports. CHOC-involved reports were predominantly for sexual abuse (65.5% as sole allegation, 5.2% with other maltreatment types) compared to non-CHOC reports (7.9% and 2.3%). CHOC reports more often involved single victims (67.1%) and were less likely to result in foster care placement (12.2% vs. 22.6%). Parents (7.1%) and mental health professionals (8.9%) more frequently reported CHOC cases than non-CHOC reports (3.3% and 3.7% respectively). CHOC differed markedly from adult perpetrators: 74.9% were male (compared to 44.9%), 41.3% under age 15, and 50.6% were relatives other than parents to victims (compared to 5.9%). Nearly 70% were substantiated for sexual abuse alone—far higher than adult perpetrators (7.2%). Among CHOC with sexual abuse allegations, 93.0% were male and 64.4% were “other relatives” of victims, versus 32.9% and 18.8% respectively for CHOC without sexual abuse allegations.

Conclusion and Implications: Our findings show substantial state-level variations in CHOC documentation, aligned with differences in statutory definitions. Importantly, these rates should not be interpreted as prevalence estimates, but rather as reflections of how states administratively classify and respond to these cases. While most CHOC are male, not caregivers, and under 15 years old, their cases predominantly involve sexual abuse allegations. These findings highlight the need for specialized, family-centered responses addressing the needs of both the child who caused harm and the child who experienced victimization.