Factors impacting the assessment of maternal culpability in cases of alleged fetal abuse.
These studies explored attitudes toward maternal culpability in cases of alleged fetal abuse. In experiment one, general culpability for the use of various substances during pregnancy was assessed as well as the impact of other potentially relevant factors. One hundred and twenty students completed the survey. Participants overwhelmingly supported treating drug use by pregnant women as a criminal offense. With regard to the assessment of more specific questions, the lack of consensus regarding what factors effect culpability is striking. Experiment two examined the possible impact of the mothers' race (White or Black) and social class (Poor or Middle class) on the assessment of culpability. One hundred and sixty-four community members responded to a survey sent to randomly selected persons in upstate South Carolina. The results indicate that at least in response to a brief, written, case scenario, neither race nor social class make a large impact on participants' sanction recommendations.
McCoy
Monica L
ML
Converse College, Spartanburg, South Carolina 29302-0006, USA. monica.mccoy@converse.edu
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D044383:Black People; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003415:Crime; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D049188:Prenatal Injuries; D012923:Social Class; D013022:South Carolina; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D044465:White People; D001741:Black or African American