TY - JOUR
T1 - Children conceived from rape
T2 - Legislation, parental rights and outcomes for victims
AU - Beck, Connie J A
AU - Alshami, Laila
AU - de la Luz, Melissa M.
AU - Camacho de Anda, Andrea N.
AU - Kendall, Heather J.
AU - Rosati, Elizabeth S.
AU - Rowe, Margaret C.
PY - 2018/7/3
Y1 - 2018/7/3
N2 - Approximately 5% of women who are victims of rape become pregnant, and approximately 32% of those women choose to raise their child. Many of the rapists are known to the victims and the victims who conceive often experience multiple rapes and pregnancies. Several states allow termination of parental rights of rapists but only after criminal convictions, which are nearly impossible to obtain. Without criminal convictions and termination of parental rights, family courts are ordering victim mothers to parent their children with their rapists. This article provides an overview of the state statutes regarding the termination of parental rights of rapists and the psychological and health impacts on the victims and their children. This article concludes discussing possible legislative remedies for victim mothers that will make the justice system process easier for and more accessible to these hidden families.
AB - Approximately 5% of women who are victims of rape become pregnant, and approximately 32% of those women choose to raise their child. Many of the rapists are known to the victims and the victims who conceive often experience multiple rapes and pregnancies. Several states allow termination of parental rights of rapists but only after criminal convictions, which are nearly impossible to obtain. Without criminal convictions and termination of parental rights, family courts are ordering victim mothers to parent their children with their rapists. This article provides an overview of the state statutes regarding the termination of parental rights of rapists and the psychological and health impacts on the victims and their children. This article concludes discussing possible legislative remedies for victim mothers that will make the justice system process easier for and more accessible to these hidden families.
KW - Child custody
KW - mental health
KW - parenting rights
KW - policy
KW - rape
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85062999134&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85062999134&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/15379418.2018.1531275
DO - 10.1080/15379418.2018.1531275
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85062999134
VL - 15
SP - 193
EP - 205
JO - Journal of Child Custody
JF - Journal of Child Custody
SN - 1537-9418
IS - 3
ER -