Indianapolis, IN — Child abuse and neglect claimed the lives of 60 kids in Indiana in 2022.
That’s according to a report from the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS), which indicates 38 were caused by neglect and 22 due to abuse.
Forty of the deaths were of children 3 years old or younger.
“The death of any child is a great loss for the families and communities,” DCS Director Terry Stigdon said. “We need to be able to learn from this report and make meaningful and lasting change to increase awareness of the risk factors that lead to these tragedies.”
Improper sleeping arrangements, including co-sleeping, remain a leading contributor to infant fatalities.
Other common risk factors listed in the report were substance abuse, failure to supervise a child (especially near a body of water), and driving while intoxicated.
DCS is legally required to review all child fatalities that fit under the following circumstances:
- For children under 3 years of age: the death is sudden, unexpected, or unexplained, or involves allegations of abuse and neglect.
- For children age 3 or older: the death involves allegations of abuse or neglect.
