However, now the increasing availability of tools like the CanLII API, linked data publication of information standards — such as the Canada developed KF
Modified Classification scheme (in development), and the Clio API means that it will not be necessary for software developers to include the full information infrastructure within their systems any longer (I wrote about this at more length here; this article is focussed on resources of relevance in Canada, for more information about similar projects internationally see Robert Richard's Legal Informatics Blog).
Based on prior research suggesting that distinctions between allegations and substantiations are not useful, 31,32 official reports of alleged child abuse were coded using a slightly
modified version33 of the maltreatment
classification scheme developed by Barnett et al. 34 Three general indicators of child abuse were created, each dichotomized as present or not, based on the coding of the following records: (1) physical abuse (any blows or injury to the head, torso, buttocks, or limbs; and violent handling, choking, burning, shaking, or nondescript injury); (2) sexual abuse (any sexual exposure, exploitation, molestation, or penetration); and (3) psychological maltreatment (threats to psychological safety and security, lack of acceptance and threats to self - esteem, or failure to allow age - appropriate autonomy).