THERE were 1,474 primary and secondary victims of child abuse and neglect on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota in 2024, according to the Division of Youth Services, which is under the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs.
“Primaries are the main victims in a case,” DYS Director Vivian Sablan said in a meeting with the local chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists last month.
“There are also indirect victims, and they are classified as secondary because they also suffer the same emotional abuse, and the other stuff that comes along. For example, in a sexual abuse case, the siblings in the household of the primary child victim become secondary victims,” she added.
According to data provided by DYS, there were 1,429 primary and secondary child abuse and neglect victims on Saipan in 2024; 1,152 in 2023; 956 in 2022; and 863 in 2021.
On Tinian, there were 16 child victims in 2024; 21 in 2023; 20 in 2022; and 44 in 2021.
On Rota, there were 29 child victims in 2024; 11 in 2023; 20 in 2022; and nine in 2021.
As for child abuse and neglect cases, DYS reported that on Saipan there were 509 cases in 2024; 438 in 2023; 345 in 2022; and 285 in 2021. These cases involved allegations of physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, neglect, teen pregnancy, domestic violence, truancy, minor sex trafficking, suicidal, and others.
On Tinian, DYS reported 10 child abuse and neglect cases in 2024; nine in 2023; 12 in 2022; and 28 in 2021.
On Rota, DYS reported 17 child abuse and neglect cases in 2021; eight in 2023; 12 in 2022; and nine in 2021.
DYS believes that its prevention awareness efforts have encouraged more community members to report abuses.
“We are used to being thought [of] as the people that broke families apart,” Sablan said. “People are afraid of us taking their children away. We’ve invested a lot in changing that mindset, [so] families [can] be as comfortable as they can …and not wait until something happens, but to come to us for help and support…. [W]e’re really out there, making the community aware and building that relationship with the community.”
She said in certain households, there are “tensions” due to financial issues or drug-related problems.
“We know for sure there’s a huge correlation,” she added. “When parents are stressed, a lot of things can either happen or not happen at home. For example, neglect [of] medical needs, food, and the living environment and condition of the home.”
Also according to DYS data, there were 52 juveniles on probation in 2024; 75 in 2023; 79 in 2022; and 63 in 2021.
As for incarcerated/detained youth, DYS said there were 30 in 2024, 51 in 2023, 29 in 2022, and 63 in 2021.
