SUBSTANTIATED AND UNSUBSTANTIATED CASES OF CHILD MALTREATMENT - DO THEIR CONSEQUENCES DIFFER

This article examines the common research practice of using only subst antiated reports from maltreatment registries. It investigates differe nces in a wide variety of school and delinquency outcomes according to the proportion of maltreatment reports that have been substantiated. The data cover more than 2,000 randomly sampled maltreated children an d smeller random comparison samples of school children and juvenile De partment of Social Services clients from one urban area in North Carol ina. The analysis of school outcomes and delinquency rates finds virtu ally no significant differences by proportion of reports substantiated . These findings support use of unsubstantiated reports in research on the consequences of maltreatment. The article also discusses the thre shold for consequences of maltreatment, the adequacy of the substantia tion process for measuring seriousness of maltreatment, and unanticipa ted consequences of decisions that maltreatment reports are unsubstant iated.