Pennsylvania releases 2020 child abuse report, drop in CPS reports from 2019, rise in deaths

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) -- The Wolf Administration released the 2020 annual Child Protective Services Report on Thursday.

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The report found that the state saw the number of Child Protective Services reports went down by 22% from 2019. Substantiated reports also fell from 4,865 to 4,593. Substantiated reports are CPS reports that after investigation reveal that child abuse did occur.

There were increases in near-death incidents and fatalities in situations involving child abuse. In 2019, 93 children nearly died as a result of abuse while in 2020, the number rose to 115. When it came to deaths, there were 51 in 2019 that were a result of child abuse. In 2020, there were 73.

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You can read the report in its entirety through the link here.