Intrafamilial Child Torture
New ICT Policy Resource Coming Soon for Professionals
New Policy Resource
In 2025, the Child Maltreatment Policy Resource Center conducted a research study to identify the parental behaviors and child outcomes that are typical in situations of ICT. We reviewed over 300 articles published in the mainstream news media about 104 families with severely maltreated children who were identified as having been tortured by their parents or adults acting in the primary parental role.
This document provides a verbatim description from the source articles of the types and scope of abuse and neglect inflicted on child victims of ICT. We have also noted the child outcomes, and in some cases the parents’ stated motivations for their treatment of their child.
We hope that by reading these descriptions, child maltreatment professionals will acquire a deeper understanding of what torture actually looks like, which will increase their ability to recognize the indicators of ICT and be prompted do a deeper assessment to confirm or rule out ICT.
Intrafamilial Child Torture (ICT) is a particularly severe form of child maltreatment with unique family dynamics and devastating outcomes for child victims. The dynamics and outcomes of torture for children in their families are comparable to other forms of child torture in non familial contexts.
No separate diagnostic category exists for ICT. It is not widely recognized or understood by child maltreatment professionals, and there is little research data to help professionals fully understand it or know how to respond. We expect that ICT cases are often misdiagnosed or remain unidentified. We also contend that professional responses to other forms of child maltreatment may not be effective for ICT and may leave tortured children at extreme risk of serious harm.
In our work, we propose a working definition of ICT to raise professional awareness of the condition and to promote adoption of ICT as a category of child maltreatment. We also describe the most effective and specialized treatment interventions for children who have experienced extreme early trauma, including child victims of ICT.
Resources include case studies of child survivors to illustrate family dynamics, severity, outcomes for child victims, and legal issues.
Policy Reports
Amicus Briefs
TAMMY SMATHERS, individually and on behalf of the ESTATE OF HARMONY BROOKLYN RAYNE CARSEY,
Plaintiffs-Appellant
vs.
RICK GLASS, Executive Director of Perry County Children's Services, et al.
Defendants-Appellees
AMANDA BRANDT, Plaintiff-Appellant
vs.
ROY POMPA, Defendant-Appellee
TAMMY SMATHERS, individually and on behalf of the ESTATE OF HARMONY BROOKLYN RAYNE CARSEY,
Plaintiffs-Appellants
vs.
RICK GLASS, Executive Director of Perry County Children's Services, et al.
Defendants-Appellees
Resources
Publications
Webinars
Contributors
Authors
Pamela Miller, JD, MSW, LISW-S
Senior Policy and Law Analyst,
Child Maltreatment Policy Resource Center
Ronald C. Hughes, PhD, MSSA
Executive Director, Senior Policy Analyst
Child Maltreatment Policy Resource Center
Institute for Human Services
Judith S. Rycus, PhD, MSW
Program Director, Senior Policy Analyst,
Child Maltreatment Policy Resource Center
Institute for Human Services
Victor Vieth, JD, JA
Senior Policy Analyst
Child Maltreatment Policy Resource Center
Janet Rosenzweig, PhD, MS, MPA
Senior Policy Analyst
Child Maltreatment Policy Resource Center
Amy J.L. Baker, PhD
Senior Policy Analyst
Child Maltreatment Policy Resource Center
Nan Beeler, MSW
Senior Policy Analyst
Child Maltreatment Policy Resource Center
Institute for Human Services
Daria Palatna, PhD, MSW
Senior Policy Analyst
Child Maltreatment Policy Resource Center
Institute for Human Services