NCJ Number
111648
Date Published
1988
Length
499 pages
Annotation
This book examines the current procedures for processing charges of child sexual abuse and suggests means to ensure child protection while guarding against accusations against innocent persons.
Abstract
The introduction delineates the central dilemma of protecting sexually abused children while protecting innocent parties. An examination of the child sexual abuse system focuses on interrogation as a learning process, the psychologist's role in assessing cases of alleged child sexual abuse, child competency to testify, the child witness and social psychology, the justice system in accusations of child sexual abuse, and the prevention of child sexual abuse. An analysis of the assessment of child sexual abuse focuses on indicators and evidence of child sexual abuse, psychological assessment of suspected victims and the accused, the behavior of sexual abusers, and the incidence and demographics of child sexual abuse. In discussing false accusations of child sexual abuse, suggested criteria for distinguishing false accusations encompass procedural factors, cognitive activity, situational factors, personal behaviors, dispositions and prototype personality patterns, and plausibility. The book concludes with a discussion of the effects and treatment of child sexual abuse as well as the background of child sexual abuse. 44-item bibliography, 861 references.