But she said her agency, which handles everything from food stamps to welfare to child-abuse cases, would be trying to make services more efficient.

He added that between 10 and 20 percent of all child-abuse cases also involved spouse abuse.

Experts say a craving for sympathy and attention can be a factor in many more child-abuse cases than previously thought.

Prosecutors said the child-abuse case was not strong enough to try.

They said it would also cut child-abuse and neglect cases, which have been soaring lately.

His report would become the foundation of the child-abuse case brought against the Leedses.

In a child-abuse case, there are often no witnesses.

Police officials have described the child-abuse case as one of the worst they have ever seen.

His wife also works for the county as a investigator of child-abuse cases.

The city's performance in handling child-abuse cases has greatly improved since the 1984 report, state officials say.