In 1998, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that child protective service agencies received about 2,806,000 referrals of possible maltreatment. The 1998 national child abuse and neglect statistics reported by states show the total number of maltreated children in this country declined to just over 900,000 children.
Parents continue to be the main perpetrators of child maltreatment.
Victims of physical abuse and sexual abuse, however, were more likely to be maltreated by a male parent acting alone. In 1997, child protective service agencies investigated 3 million reports of child abuse, of which just under 1 million cases were substantiated. The Child Protection and Sexual Predator Punishment Act of 1998 addresses protection for children from sexual predators and child pornography and prevention of sexual abuse. It prohibits the transfer of obscene material to minors, and increases penalties for offenses against children and for repeat offenders. Furthermore, the Act amends the Child Abuse Act of 1990 by requiring online service providers to report evidence of child pornography offenses to law enforcement agencies.